Youth Access Programme
Online safety guidance

Please read this guidance, produced in consultation with local young Bebo users!

Have fun, make friends, stay cool!

Stay safe!

Prevent people you wouldn’t want to know how to contact or find you from doing so by not posting personal information.

Personal information includes your full name, date of birth, home address, school or college and your home phone/mobile numbers.

Prevent Identity Fraud

By keeping your login details (username and password) secret – people pretending to be you are a risk to you and others, just as people pretending to be other are.

If you have to give an online name, never use your real name.

For passwords, try not to use ones that are easy to guess like your last name, postcode, football team or pet.

Also, don’t post the address of parties or gigs you are giving or attending.

You may think only your friends will go, but you could end up with a load of unwanted guests!

Keep your profile Private

Except to friends – but think about who you allow as friends, who’ll then be able to see your profile

When posting photographs online be careful about what the images reveal about you.

Anything too revealing could lead to unwanted attention. Photos that contain a street name or recognisable landmark where you live or hang out with friends could lead to a stranger finding you.

Never keep quiet about online bullies.

If at any point you feel uncomfortable or threatened, speak to an adult, whether a teacher, youth worker or relative, and stop contact with them. You can also inform the site operator. You can also report abuse of a sexual nature at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, a Government run website. Immediately tell your Youth Access worker or tutor!

It’s not a good idea, in general, to meet online friends face-to-face.

No matter how well you think you’ve got to know them. However, if you feel determined to meet an online friend, tell an adult and let them have your online friends contact details. Always arrange to meet in a public place where there are lots of other people around.

Never put yourself in situations where you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, or from which you cannot escape.

You could be attacked by a stranger if you meet someone you don’t know from the internet - be very careful.

Beware of Spam.

Some sites will use your e-mail address to send you loads of junk. Sometimes these may contain viruses that could damage your computer. Delete emails from people or companies that you don’t know.

Prevent Spam.

When signing up to a newsletter or website read the small print as usually you can prevent them from using or passing on your details.