Emily's Story
The “Reel” Story: Internet Luring
- Chatting on the Internet can be a great way to stay in touch with people, but it can also be dangerous. Just because someone tells you he or she is a teenager doesn’t make it true. Sexual predators use the Internet to find potential victims because they can hide behind its electronic anonymity.
- The most important thing to remember is that nobody controls the Internet. There aren’t any rules to protect you from criminals, so you need to protect yourself. This doesn’t mean you should give up chatting, but you do need to be careful about how you do it. Here are some basic precautions to take while online:
- The most important thing to remember is that nobody controls the Internet. There aren’t any rules to protect you from criminals, so you need to protect yourself. This doesn’t mean you should give up chatting, but you do need to be careful about how you do it. Here are some basic precautions to take while online:
• Never give out any personal information, such as your address, phone number, password or photograph. It is surprisingly easy for a stranger to track you down with even the smallest amount of information.
• Don’t believe everything you’re told. Sexual predators will often pass themselves off as other teenagers, even using photos of real teenagers to back up their lies. Always remember that you have no way of knowing who is telling the truth on the Internet.
• Never make an appointment to meet in person with someone you have met on the Internet without the permission of your parents or another adult. Make sure the meeting place is a public place and other people are with you.
• If you do share photos or video of yourself, be aware that anything you broadcast can never be taken back. Once it’s out there, it’s there for the whole world – including your parents – to see.
• If you use a webcam, be sure that you actually unplug the webcam when you’re not using it. Even if you just turn it off, it could still be manipulated remotely and used to film you without your knowledge.
• Talk to your parents about what you do online, and invite them to surf the Net with you. If you have concerns about things you see on the Internet, or think someone else might be in trouble, tell them or another adult you trust. Don’t be intimidated by others into keeping quiet if you see a problem.
• Don’t believe everything you’re told. Sexual predators will often pass themselves off as other teenagers, even using photos of real teenagers to back up their lies. Always remember that you have no way of knowing who is telling the truth on the Internet.
• Never make an appointment to meet in person with someone you have met on the Internet without the permission of your parents or another adult. Make sure the meeting place is a public place and other people are with you.
• If you do share photos or video of yourself, be aware that anything you broadcast can never be taken back. Once it’s out there, it’s there for the whole world – including your parents – to see.
• If you use a webcam, be sure that you actually unplug the webcam when you’re not using it. Even if you just turn it off, it could still be manipulated remotely and used to film you without your knowledge.
• Talk to your parents about what you do online, and invite them to surf the Net with you. If you have concerns about things you see on the Internet, or think someone else might be in trouble, tell them or another adult you trust. Don’t be intimidated by others into keeping quiet if you see a problem.
