Think it through together · A little story
A girl is about to share a photo. The robot first asks, “Does it include anything you do not want strangers to know?” The internet is useful, but it also calls for good judgment.
Lay out the process
- Look at the contentDoes it include private information?
- Check the recipientWho will receive it?
- Confirm the purposeWhy is it needed?
- If unsureAsk a trusted adult for help
Online safety means protecting devices, accounts, and information, as well as recognizing unreasonable requests.
Not every website is dangerous, and a familiar person’s profile picture does not prove it is really them. Pausing to check the source is often more useful than clicking in a hurry.
If you click or send something by mistake, telling a parent promptly and taking steps to fix it is more helpful than hiding it because you are afraid.
Your turn to try
You receive a message saying, “Send me the verification code right now or your account will disappear.” Should you do it immediately?
Have you thought it through? Open for an explanation
Pause first. Verify the message through a known official channel, and ask a parent for help. Urgent wording is not proof that a request is trustworthy.
Take away one discovery
Online safety means protecting devices, accounts, and information, as well as recognizing unreasonable requests.
Try covering the diagram above and explaining each step to someone in your family. If one step is hard to explain, go back and look at that card again.