1. Online Safety!
By: Michelle Deng

2. What is Online Safety?
Online safety is protecting yourself from the danger on the internet.
Learn how to use the internet safely and responsibly to stay safe.
Using your cyber-sense is part of online safety.
It is responsibly using the internet without harming anyone (not bullying, for example) or letting everyone know your personal information (such as your passwords, phone number, or address).

3. Understanding the Dangers Online
The internet can be very helpful for many activities, but the internet can also be dangerous.
People can use the internet to steal your identity, humiliate you, and lie to you.
Some of the top dangers are: cyberbullying (bullying that takes place online), information theft (stealing of personal information, for example passwords, and sometimes even your whole identity), and software such as viruses which can damage or invade your computer.
Many people have encountered an internet danger.
There are ways to protect yourself from internet dangers.

4. Cyber-sense
Cyber-sense is when you use your common sense online. This will help you be safe online.
Some examples of cyber-sense are not giving out information to people you have just met, and telling an adult if you see anything that is offensive or is cyber-bullying.
It is also helping others that are being cyber-bullied.
Cyber-sense can be used to prevent many safety dangers from happening.

5. Protecting Yourself From the Dark Side of the Internet
Chatting with strangers is also talking with strangers, so be careful what you say
To stay out of stranger danger you can be private (e.g. don’t tell anyone you don’t know, your name, address or telephone number)
Another way to stay out of stranger danger is to never send pictures (especially not those of yourself) online
After you send a picture anyone can take that picture and make it their own.
If you download something it may come with a virus that can ruin your computer, so download carefully!
Delete your messages from people you don’t know. They can have attachments with viruses or they can be spam mail.
The worse thing that can happen if you pick up a virus is that you can accidentally allow a hacker into your computer and you could lose your identity.
To protect your identity you can use passwords that are hard to guess, use your cyber-sense (read what you’re downloading), and update your anti-virus program (use the newest program available.

6. Bullying in a High-tech World
Cyber bullying is online bullying (it uses different types of technology to embarrass, or hurt people).
Cyber-bullying can happen in chatrooms, on websites, in blogs, through s or texts, and on voic .
There are many different types of cyber-bullying, such as impersonation (pretending to be someone else in order to make them look bad), or gossiping about other people.
Technology makes it easier for bullies to make fun of and hurt their victims, while the people who are being made fun are at a disadvantage because it may seem like the bully is everywhere.
At least 42% of kids have been cyber-bullied online. 1 in 4 have been bullied more than once.

7. Dealing with Cyber-bullying Online
There are some characteristics that all cyber-bullies share: they feel invisible (they can hide behind another screen and say things they normally wouldn’t in real life) and they feel like they are invincible (it will be a lot harder to catch if you don’t know who exactly they are.
There are some ways you can respond to cyber-bullying.
Keep calm. If you ignore the cyber-bullying, the bully might get bored and stop bullying you.
Block the bully. Block that person’s , screen name, or telephone number (don’t let the bully have access to you)
Tell the bully to stop. Tell the bully that you want them to stop, clearly and strongly (try to talk to them face to face, and take your friends for support)

8. Dealing with Cyber-bullying Con.
If the bully doesn’t stop and you get more hurtful messages, try to keep it so you can have proof that you were bullied.
You can also tell an adult (they can help you put an end to it).
If it gets really bad, you can ask an adult to call the police, (threats, harassment, intimidation, and blackmail are all against the law)
Don’t be a cyberbully.

9. Being Respectful Internet Citizens
There are different kinds of internet citizens such as the observer (if it doesn’t concern you, you don’t do anything about it), the alter-ego (you do things that you wouldn’t do in real life), the follower (you do what your friends are doing), the super-citizen (you follow rules and think about other people’s feelings).
To be a super-citizen you should be considerate of other people’s feelings.
Be honest and fair (don’t do things that you know are wrong).
Never take part in bullying others (bullying is wrong, anywhere or anytime).
Protect yourself. Don’t give out your personal information.
Keep other people’s information private. For example, when you mail a group at the same time, use the carbon copy so no one can see other people's s.