The Internet is a great place, full of interesting and fun websites. It can be used for so many things: news, entertainment, keeping in touch, help with school and college work, and so on. However, like anything else, there are a few things to be cautious about. Here are some top tips to make sure that you surf safely (especially if you are under the age of 18yrs).

Agree with your parents what sort of sites you will be visiting and make sure they know before you enter any chatrooms. Remember, you can easily spend hours online without realising it! Keep an eye on the time!

Watch out for websites that have adult/over 18s warnings. They are not suitable for young people. Remember your parents can easily find out if you have visited them.

If you discover something that worries or upsets you, or you get a nasty e-mail message, let an adult know. Remember, it’s not your fault!

If you are being bullied or harassed by someone online, as well as telling an adult, inform the Moderator or Host of the website as they can also help, including giving you a new user name and/or banning the bully.

It is important you keep the history of any bullying, including the nature of the incident, names and times and any contact details. If you can, keep a note of any technical information that might be of help too: things like which browser or Internet connection was being used.

If someone is pretending to be you in a chatroom or internet forum, tell the Moderator or Host.

Be careful how much information you give out about yourself. Never give out personal information like your full name, address, telephone number or school name on the internet.

Remember, people aren’t always who they say they are. Some adults pretend to be children and can try to persuade you to meet them.

Don’t give out any passwords. If you think someone knows your password change it straightaway.

Chat to others about your online friendships

Moderated, public chatrooms are safer places to meet new online friends than unmoderated or private chatrooms.

If you do want to meet people you have met online make sure your parents or guardians know first. Arrange to meet in a busy, public place and get an adult to come along with you. Remember, even though you may feel as if you know your internet friends quite well…they are still strangers!

Use buddy lists. These are simply online address books, where you can add people to your list and ‘allow’ them to invite you to chat when they are online. You can also ‘ban’, ‘ignore’ or ‘remove’ people who have caused you annoyance. It is a good way of managing your online friendships.

Only open e-mails from people you know. Remember, some emails can be spread through e-mail attachments, so delete them before opening them if you are uncertain.