معرفة اللغات مدخل إلى الحكمة. - Arabic Proverb

What Behaviors can put you at Risk?

Cyber-bullying including using hate speech, threats, spreading rumors and gossip, sharing embarrassing or inappropriate photos of someone else
Sharing inappropriate photos or content such as drinking, drug use, illegal activities, revealing/suggestive photos, profanity, offensive or lewd images, sexting
Having adult conversations with people you don't know
Going onto adult websites
Clicking on unknown links
Sharing personal information

If you can get into trouble offline doing something, you can get into trouble for doing it online as well.

Consequences of Risky Online Behavior

Engaging in any of the behavior above can leave you vulnerable to hackers, identity thieves, computer viruses, and malware. Your reputation can be damaged and you can also get into trouble with your parents, your school, or the law. You could be expelled from school or even arrested. Additionally, you can put current and future opportunities at risk like college scholarships or job opportunities.

Information shared online can spread quickly and be permanent. Even people you don't want to see something may be able to see it. Even with your privacy setting engaged, someone who does have access to what you post could share it without you knowing. There are literally millions of stories of how using the internet can go wrong.

You can read some of those stories here.

What Information can be Used Against you?

Passwords can be used to gain access to your accounts on the internet and in real life.
Addresses can leave you open to being contacted without your permission. Sharing your address can also leave you vulnerable to hackers who might submit a fake change-of-address form to divert your mail, or use it on fake IDs.
Phone numbers: A high percentage of apps are linked to your cell phone number. Hackers and identity thieves can use your phone numbers to gain access to your bank, passwords, other apps and websites, and other information that you might use for security questions.
Your location: Sharing your location makes it easier for people to find you - even people you don't know and have never met.
Email address: Most, if not all, of you digital existance is linked to your email address. Plus, your email address often contains other pieces of personal information like your name, your company or school, even your favorite numbers.
Your plans/activities: Posting your plans or activities lets people know when you might not be home, leaving you vulnerable to burglars. Posting your plans also makes it easier for people, even perfect strangers, to locate you.

Sexting

Sexting is the sending of nude, partially nude, or suggestive photos and/or videos over text messages. According to recent research, around 15% of teens are currently sexting. Once you share a suggestive photo with someone, you lose all control over what happens to that photo. People who have sext have found their photos shared online and uploaded to revenge porn sites. They have found themselves the victims of blackmail and sextortion. People who take and share suggestive photos can be breaking the law and could face fines, criminal records, or even incarceration. Students have been expelled from school, lost their jobs, lost college scholarships, and have had job offers and college acceptance offers revoked.

If an Image of you is Being Shared Online:

Tell a trusted adult so they can help you
Talk to your school
File a complaint with the websites hosting the image. When filing a complaint, it's important that you include your age and specify that it has been posted without your consent.
If the image continues to be shared, or websites refuse to take the image down, you may need to inform law enforcement and file a police report

"You Have The Right To Say NO To Inappropriate Requests"

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also has resources to help you remove your explicit images if they are out there online.

Go to www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow for more information.

What is Cyber-bullying?

Cyber-bullying is bullying that occurs over digital devices. Just like bullying that happens in real life, it is repeated, harrassing behavior that targets a specific person or group of people, and is meant to intimidate, scare, shame, and humiliate. Even if you don't experience bullying yourself, it's important to say something if you see someone else being bullied.

Examples of Cyber-bullying

Creating a hate group

Posting mean comments about someone

Altering someone's photo in a way that would embarress them

Recording/posting fight videos

Spreading/forwarding rumors, gossip, or embarrassing photos

Creating a fake profile for someone

What to do if you see or Experience Cyber-bullying?

Block and report bullies and bullying behavior

Tell a trusted adult

Remain civil

Be an Ally

Don't respond to bullies

Don't retaliate

Consider setting up new accounts

Document in detail all instances of cyber-bullying

If you need or want to talk to someone about something that happened to you in real life or online:

Click here for a list of mental health support groups located all over the world.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Protecting Yourself Online

Use different passwords for each account and change them often. Only share your passwords with your parents or guardian.
Use privacy settings
Be aware of who you "friend" online
Limit access to your location. Turn GPS settings off before taking a photo with your phone and/or camera.
Never share the personal information of someone else
If a website is asking for financial information, check for the lock symbol
Don't take any picture that you wouldn't want someone else to see
Don't forward images of other people
Never pressure someone else to take or share an image
Block/Unfriend people who send you unsolicited requests or images
Even if you aren't bothered by it, report inappropriate behavior to the website or app to protect others
Talk to someone you trust
NEVER meet someone offline
Enable two-factor identification for all sites and apps when available