TAKE THE INTERNET SAFETY PLEDGE!

These common-sense rules can help your child be safer online and ensure that he or she is a good Internet citizen, too.

NetSmartz has developed Internet safety pledges for children of all ages that explain online safety. These common-sense rules can help your child be safer online and ensure that he or she is a good Internet citizen, too!

Below, we feature the pledge for youth in middle and high school. You can download this pledge, as well as pledges for youth in grades K-2 and grades 3-6 at the NetSmartz Workshop. Have your children sign the pledge and then post it near the computer to remind them about online safety rules.

Internet Safety Pledge for Middle and High School

1. I will talk with my parents or guardian about their expectations and ground rules for going online. The rules will include the time of day I may be online, the length of time I may be online, whom I may communicate with online, and appropriate areas for me to visit online.
2. I will keep my identity private. I will never share my full name, mailing address, phone number, name of my school, photo or other information that someone could use to determine my identity.
3. I will never respond to any online communication that makes me feel uncomfortable. I will tell a trusted adult if I come across any information that makes me feel scared, uncomfortable or confused. I will never respond to messages that are rude or offensive. I will show the message to a trusted adult right away.
4. I will never meet in person with anyone I have first “met” online without discussing it with my parents or guardian. I won’t meet in person with anyone unless my parents or guardian agree to the meeting and will go with me, and the meeting will be in a public place.
5. I will respect other people’s rights while online. The Internet is a community and my online behavior affects others. I will always treat others in the way I would like to be treated. I will respect copyright laws and check on sources. When writing reports I will make sure that the online sources of information are credible and I will cite my sources.

More information is available from 1-800-THE-LOST or NetSmartz.org.