CHAT ROOMS What Makes Them Dangerous And How YOU Can Make Them Safe! MARY B. CONYERS PROTECT EVERYCHILD P. O. Box 749, Knightdale, NC Power Point Presentation, Robert C. Stewart Narration, Mary B. Conyers

Chat Rooms Can Be Dangerous It is the responsibility of every adult to protect the children in their care. The purpose of this CD is to educate parents and young people about the dangers that exist in “instant communication” on the Internet. In doing this, we can make it a safer environment for our families and enjoy inviting the world into our homes. Young people find talking in a Chat Room or through Instant Messaging much easier than carrying on a face-to-face conversation. Children that are shy and timid will come alive in this setting when they do not have to worry about showing their embarrassment or being tongue-tied. The problem is that the teen they think they are confiding in may be a 40 year-old man. In parenting we follow fundamental rules to keep our children safe. The rules on the Internet are basically the same, but it is even more essential to maintain an active presence near the keyboard. Many of the stranger abductions of young people begin in a Chat Room. Stranger danger is real! This CD will outline some of the rules in keeping your child out of harm’s way. It was written for middle school age kids. Much of the information is repetitious. It is meant to be! Learn all you can and make the Internet a safe place for your child! Mary B. Conyers, Founder Protect Every Child

Chat Rooms Can Be Dangerous!  Chat Rooms and message boards are Internet locations allowing instant live and interactive conversations between two or more computers.  They can be in the same town or across the world.

Chat Rooms Can Be Dangerous! A user enters a chat room, types a message into the computer, sends it, and it is instantly displayed on the screens of the other users in the chat room. It is a public area. You never know who is going to be reading your messages or responding to them. They are strangers, and you can’t tell the difference between a good stranger... and a bad stranger. and a bad stranger.

What is privacy? Privacy is the right to be free from outside intrusions and to have control over our own personal information. Privacy is the right to be free from outside intrusions and to have control over our own personal information. In the world of the Internet, many adults and young people don’t know how to protect their privacy and identity and it is under attack. In the world of the Internet, many adults and young people don’t know how to protect their privacy and identity and it is under attack. Learn the rules so the Internet can be a fun and safe place to learn and play! Learn the rules so the Internet can be a fun and safe place to learn and play!

How Can You Protect Your Privacy? NEVER fill out forms and enter contests on commercial websites without checking their privacy statements before completing any information. NEVER fill out forms and enter contests on commercial websites without checking their privacy statements before completing any information. If a website does not have a privacy statement, DO NOT ENTER! ALWAYS check with your parents before adding any information to a website form. ALWAYS check with your parents before adding any information to a website form.

NEVER provide personal information to anyone on the Internet that you do not know!  Name: always use a nickname, which may be used for a boy or girl.  Age.  Phone number.  Address.  School.  Even something as simple as !  Don’t talk about family problems.

NEVER provide personal information when you register for: NEVER provide personal information when you register for: –file-sharing, –instant messaging – , etc. NEVER give out your screen name or IM member number to people you do not personally know. NEVER give out your screen name or IM member number to people you do not personally know. NEVER add individuals to your IM list that you only know from Internet interactions. Protect Your Privacy!

NEVER complete personal profiles for an or instant messaging account. WHY? Personal Profiles ask for all kinds of information about you that can lead people to you and your home placing you and your family in harm’s way. Personal Profiles ask for all kinds of information about you that can lead people to you and your home placing you and your family in harm’s way.

NEVER give personal information to strangers: – Not in chat rooms! – Not through instant messaging! – Always use a generic name, a name that may be a boy or girl when going into a chat room or instant messaging.

Don’t send your picture! NEVER send your picture to anyone you met online in a chat room. A picture reveals a lot of personal information about you. NEVER send your picture to anyone you met online in a chat room. A picture reveals a lot of personal information about you. This picture would make you easy to find!

Pedophiles and child predators… Pedophiles and child predators… (people who want to harm children) use online services to meet young children and teens by posing as a teen and then arranging a face-to-face meeting. (people who want to harm children) use online services to meet young children and teens by posing as a teen and then arranging a face-to-face meeting.

 You may think you are communicating with another 13- year-old boy or girl when it may actually be a 40- year-old man.

What can you do to protect yourself? REMEMBER THE RULES! They are very important! They are very important!  DO NOT reveal any personal information about yourself or your family! They are very important! They are very important!  DO NOT reveal any personal information about yourself or your family!

Watch Out! The 1st question usually asked of someone entering a chat room is: A/S/L—age, sex and location.

Watch Out! Remember that revealing personal information to a stranger met in a chat room:  Can lead to many bad things.  Can lead to being pressured to arrange a personal face-to- face meeting.

 NEVER, EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES AGREE TO MEET ANYONE YOU MET ONLINE!!!! Watch Out!

IF YOU THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG!!! If you think you may be talking to someone online who is just pretending to be another teen: Tell your parents IMMEDIATELY! You may be in a dangerous situation! Don’t delete your conversations with this person. If this person is someone who wants to harm you, the police may be able to find him or her through your computer. Locating this person may protect you and other teens from harm.

 If your parents decide that it is safe for you to meet this person, they should go with you and meet in a public place such as a mall.

NEVER MEET ANYONE WITHOUT YOUR PARENTS PRESENT!

Great Idea! Great Idea!  If your parents agree that you can meet this “chat buddy,” why not meet inside your local police station!!!

 Guard against becoming too comfortable about giving out personal information as a regular part of online activities.

 I I I It is easy to forget and share personal information without stopping to think that you may be in a risky online environment.  P P P Put a note on or near your computer to remind you: Be careful!

NEVER give out personal information!!! Be careful!

ALWAYS REMEMBER: Tell Mom and Dad about anything that makes you feel uncomfortable when you are using the computer. Tell Mom and Dad about anything that makes you feel uncomfortable when you are using the computer. Teach your parents to stay safe while using the Internet. You probably know more about the computer than they do. Teach your parents to stay safe while using the Internet. You probably know more about the computer than they do. Set a good example for younger brothers and sisters when you are using the computer. You are a role model for them. Set a good example for younger brothers and sisters when you are using the computer. You are a role model for them. Your parents want to protect you all they can, BUT you have to help them do that. Your parents want to protect you all they can, BUT you have to help them do that.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: Have fun BUT act responsibly. Your safety is more important than anything else!

Mary B. Conyers, Protect Every Child Power Point Presentation By: Robert C. Stewart Enjoy having the world at your fingertips, and MAKE SAFETY A PRIORITY! Enjoy having the world at your fingertips, and MAKE SAFETY A PRIORITY!

Protect Every Child: ChatDanger: GetNetWise: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: NetSmartz: North Carolina Dept. of Justice: “Internet Safety” ProtectKids.com: Protect Kids: SafeKids: