GetNetWise - The Internet offers kids many opportunities for learning, constructive entertainment, and personal growth. At the same time, parents are concerned about the risks kids face online. The challenge for parents is to educate themselves and their children about how to use the Internet safely. GetNetWise can help. www.getnetwise.org

Never give out identifying information such as a name, home address, school name or telephone number in a public message such as at a chat room or on bulletin boards.

Never send a person a picture of yourself without first checking with your parent or guardian.

Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive and/or obscene, belligerent, threatening or make you feel uncomfortable.

Be careful when someone offers you something for nothing, such as gifts or money. Be very careful about any offers that involve your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your house.

Tell your parent or guardian right away if you come across any information that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Never arrange a face to face meeting without telling your parent or guardian. If your parent or guardian agrees to the meeting, make sure that you meet in a public place, and have a parent or guardian with you.

Remember that people online may not be who they seem. Because you can't see or even hear them it would be easy for the person to misrepresent him or herself. Thus, someone indicating that "she" is a "12 year old girl" could in reality be an older man.

Be sure that you are dealing with someone that you and your parent or guardian trust before giving out any personal information about yourself via e-mail.

Get to know your "online friends" just as you get to know all of your other friends.