Online Safety Day

We believe all families should be aware of the online safety guidance that Ms. Orr shared with the kids. Though content was adjusted for different age groups, all students 3-8 received these important messages:

• Communicate with your parents. Ask for permission before downloading an app or creating an account.

• Give parents access to all of your usernames and passwords. If something scary happens and no one can get information about who you have chatted with, then no one can find out what happened and help you.

• Check age limits for apps. All social media apps require you to be 13 for older. 

• Do not communicate with people you don't know face to face. 

• Don't accept messages or friend requests from people you don't know.

• People online are not always who they say they are.

• Set all online profiles or accounts to private. 

• Avoid sharing photos where strangers can see them. Photos can reveal clues about you and your location. They can also be taken and used in harmful ways.

• Never share photos of private parts of your body. If anyone asks for those photos, tell a trusted adult right away. It is against the law for someone to ask for those photos. If you have made a mistake and already shared a photo, tell a trusted adult right away so we can help you to be safe.

• Have anonymous usernames and profile pictures. Don't reveal your real name or face.

• Never share personal information online. Personal information (hobbies, sports, interests) might help strangers act like they have a lot in common with you or understand you. When they act this way, they seem like a friend. You might feel more like trusting them and sharing more, and that can be dangerous.

• Never share private information online. Private information (address, phone, full name, where you go to school) can lead a harmful person to your home or to find you where you are.

• Do not have devices in your room at night. You need sleep to be healthy, but also, you might not make good decisions when you are tired, and an adult might not be available to help if something weird or scary happens. Sometimes harmful people are more active online at night.