Around 96% of all teens or young children use the internet daily and most of them encounter dangers while connected to the online world. Action and education must be taken into consideration to ensure safety while there is online activity by children and teens, as they have the highest online presence out of all ages. Internet safety is a must, especially for adolescents, as danger may be a click away.
Some people are susceptible to scams that try to steal personal details. These types of scams aren’t just losing your most valuable pet in Adopt Me on Roblox or falling for an AI video on TikTok. It is important that you do not share anything personal with random people online like your full name, password, address, school, or location. When information like this is shared, dangerous people are able to find you at the places you go or steal personal information. If an offer is too good to be true, it probably is, and is most likely a scam.
As most teens use social media, accounts should be set to private, ensuring only people you know can see what you share. Have a strong password to protect yourself from hackers, and especially have two-factor-authentication for an extra shield.
If you know the phrase “Stranger Danger,” it also applies to online situations. People aren’t always who they say they are and they can easily impersonate someone you know to gain trust. If someone you’ve only met online asks to meet in person or requests information like photos, it is best to tell a trusted adult immediately and block that person. Remember that whatever you put out on the internet, could stay there forever.
Your well-being also applies to internet safety. Never post anything online when you are feeling strong emotions, like when you’re angry or sad to prevent being attacked by haters. Disabling comments and replies from people can prevent nasty comments, but blocking them is always an easier solution.
If you or someone you know is being affected by online dangers, be sure to take action to actively avoid these threats by telling a trusted adult, disengaging, blocking, and reporting the aggressor. Make responsible actions when having online activity, and protect information. Although many dangers may appear, it isn’t scary when you know how to avoid them.
