Social Media DOs & DON'Ts

Do: Think about how you present yourself online, including your profile image and your language. You are creating an online reputation that stays with you forever.

Do: Know who can access your personal information. You may be able to decide what parts of your profile others can access, but assume everything is public unless you learn otherwise. Sometimes "private" means everyone can see what's on your profile, but only your friends can post comments or contact you.

Do: Trust your instincts if something doesn't feel or look right. If something online makes you feel uncomfortable, talk to a trusted adult. Leave the chat, block the person and or the website, and/or report the profile, comment, image or video.

Do: Think before posting your personal information. As soon as your information goes online, you can't control who sees it and how it's used. This means your photo could be shared almost instantly with thousands of people or even altered/distorted digitally. If you wouldn't want everyone to see it, don't post it.

Do: Think before sharing others' personal information, including tagging photos without their permission or sharing their personal life with the world. They deserve privacy as much as you, so help protect it.

Do: Have fun expressing yourself but be cautious about what you post and about what you share. Once it is online, it is stored forever, even if you delete it. That information is stored somewhere.

Don't: Assume everyone you meet online is who he or she seems to be. Anyone can create a user profile pretending to be someone else -- even on social media sites that claim to connect students from the same school.

Don't: Post information that could lead someone to you offline. Avoid posting photos that include license plates or identifiable landmarks or messages that indicate your typical hangouts. Over time, people can piece together detailed information about you.

Don't: Reply to harassing or disturbing messages. Cyberbullies want to know they are making you worried or upset -- and want a reaction from you. Instead of responding, remain in control by talking to a trusted adult.

Don't: Promise to meet-up with someone you met online. Protect yourself and know that trafficking is a very real danger. This is where men or women online pretend to build a relationship with you, are always complimenting you, may offer you jobs in modeling or other countries, and tend to make you feel like they are the only one who "gets you". People may ask you to send photos or videos or to do things of a sensual nature. Then may attempt to blackmail you into silence for informing an adult or threaten people's lives. Some have met up with these people and been kidnapped and forced into very unpleasant situations.

Never meet up with someone you do not personally know or go somewhere alone to meet up with someone you met on the internet. Inform an adult and/or authorities immediately.