E-safety

Try taking the e-safety quiz!
 

Before you write anything in a Blog or eportfolio page, think about who might read it!

Some people never use their real name on the internet because they don't want others to know their identity. Why?

It might simply be because they are shy, want to keep their privacy or believe that someone might use the information against them. It could be because they are a criminal and don't want to get caught!

There are some general practical tips about writing on the internet below.

Tips about information provided on the internet

1. Anything you type into a regular page that you create will be viewable by anyone. Think carefully before you type and read through your work before you click "submit".
2. If you use your real name it is very likely that you can be found, particularly if you give other details such as the name of your school, place of work or home. Give some thought to this before deciding on a user name or typing your name in general information.
3. Publishing your e-mail address is usually a bad idea. Not only might someone with bad intentions contact you, spammers are likely to use it to send you a lot of junk mail.
4. It is a bad idea to publish times when you are on holiday since burglars could use this to know you are away from your house. That would be a good time for them to break in!
5. If you write bad things about other people they can sue you. Liable laws apply to the internet just the same as to other media.
6. Meeting strangers always has some risk as you don't know what intentions a stranger has. Meeting strangers through the internet is no different from a stranger coming up to you in the street.
7. Even if you have had several discussions with a person in a chat room or forum, they are still a stranger. Be very careful about meetings arranged on the internet. Generally any first time meeting should be with other people you know and in a public place. Be careful who you "buddy" with on social networking sites.
8. Never respond to e-mails that ask you for personal details such as your address or telephone number. Never ever give credit card or bank details to a request by e-mail. Proper banks and reputable companies will never ask for these details by e-mail.
9. Different places require different writing styles. Blogs and eportfolios require formal writing. Forums and chat spaces are more flexible and the use of slang and SMS type abbreviations is more likely to be tolerated.
10. Formal writing means using "I" not "i" when referring to yourself, starting sentences with a capital letter, finishing with a full stop. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms because you don't know for sure that everyone will know what they mean.