While Warsaw may be a small town, students are still at risk of becoming victims of predators.
Many students don’t understand the importance of keeping their information private. Most predators find their victims online. They pretend to be someone they’re not, behind a screen. With this being said, there are many things to keep in mind while using social media.
According to technology director Kerry DeHaan, the internet is a very scary and confusing place, be cautious with your information.
“Don’t give out personal information. It’s important not to share your password, name, address/neighborhood, school or information about your family with anybody online,” said DeHaan.
“Protect your passwords. Don’t share your passwords with anyone except for your parents. When you log into an account using a public computer, be sure to log out before leaving,” said DeHaan.
Many people who meet friends over social media are at risk of being tracked by online stalkers.
“Don’t respond to emails or social media contacts unless you know them,” said School Resource Officer David Fajen.
Living in a small town makes it easier for predators to find their target. With this being said, students need to be smart when traveling or walking into places.
“When in a public place, take time to familiarize yourself with exits and escape routes. Travel in groups, never alone,” said Fajen.
“Don’t agree to meet anyone in person that you met online. Unfortunately, some people sometimes pretend to be someone they’re not. It’s safest not to agree to meet people in person, even if you’ve talked to them at length. If you are truly interested in meeting up with someone you met online, talk to a grownup so they can help determine the safest way to do so,” said DeHaan.
Top 8 online safety tips
– Choose safe screen names. When you’re creating screen names, avoid using personally identifiable information like your name, birthday, city, etc.
– Ask for help if you are scared or uncomfortable. Some scammers may try to frighten you into clicking a link or sharing personal information. If you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable, remember you do not have an obligation to respond to anyone online and you do not have to click anything you don’t want to click.
– Don’t post photos or videos without your parent or guardian’s permission. Even if a photo seems safe to post, it can contain location codes that show where and when the photo was taken which can reveal personal information about you like your address or school. Before posting or sharing photos online, talk to a parent or guardian.
– Don’t participate in cyberbullying. Don’t send mean or threatening messages online, and don’t engage with these types of messages or comments if you receive them. Cyberbullying is never okay. If you receive a mean or threatening message, talk to a grown up about how you might have it removed, have the person blocked, or otherwise resolve the situation.
– Be wary of contests or “freebies.” Contests and freebies are a very common way for scammers to get your personal information. Do not click links, download attachments, or provide personal information such as your name, phone number, address, passwords, etc. without permission from a parent or guardian, even if there is a “countdown clock” or other perceived sense of urgency.
– Don’t download attachments or click links. Attachments, links, software, or other downloads can have viruses or other malicious software attached to them that can harm your computer or phone or steal your personal information. Never click a link or download anything from anyone you don’t know.
– If something seems fishy or unsafe, stop and ask for help. Scammers can be sneaky and can even pretend to be someone you know. If something doesn’t seem right or makes you feel unsafe, stop and ask for help from a parent or guardian.
– Understand that nothing is private. Even content you share via private messaging, text, Snapchat, or “disappearing” message tools can be discovered online. Don’t share anything online or on your mobile device that you wouldn’t be comfortable having made public.
