Be Safe and Stay SMART Online

Internet Safety Guidance from your library

Surfing the Net can be great fun, but here are some SMART rules that will keep you safe while you surf:

Safe - keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information such as your name, e-mail address, home address, phone number or school name to people who you don't trust online. 

Meeting - someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Only do so with your parents' or carers' permission and even then only when they can be present.

Accepting - e-mails, IM messages, or opening files, pictures or texts from people you don't know or trust can lead to problems - they may contain viruses or nasty messages!

Reliable - someone online may be lying about who they are, and information you find on the internet may not be reliable

Tell - your parent, carer or a trusted adult if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried. You can report online abuse to the police at: http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Useful Links

Here are some useful websites with information on Internet Safety for children and adults:

• Think U Know is aimed at children aged 5 and above as well as parents and teachers - it covers texting and online activities. From the police Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre: http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
• BBC Online Safety aims to help you use the internet in a safe way. It links to sites that are kept up to date with useful information, along with explanations and helpful hints for you and your family to get the most out of the internet: http://www.bbc.co.uk/onlinesafety/
• Get Safe Online is a Government-backed internet safety website with comprehensive links to others: www.getsafeonline.org/
• Hector's World Safety Button can be downloaded for free from the Think U Know website. A Hector's world character will then swim at the top of the screen and if you are confused or frightened by anything you see online, you can click on the character to cover the screen while you get help: http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7/hectorsworld/safetybutton.aspx
• Kidsmart has sections for young people, parents/carers and teachers on internet safety. The young people's section includes games and a quiz: http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/
• Chatdanger is a website created to inform young people about the potential dangers and ways of keeping safe in interactive areas online, such as chatrooms, instant messenger, online games and e-mail, and also via mobile phones: http://www.chatdanger.com/ 

Worried or upset?

If something that has happened to you on the internet has upset you, you can call Childline's free 24-hour helpline on 0800 1111 or visit the website: http://www.childline.org.uk/

Please note: We are not responsible for the content of other organisations' websites.

Download the Smart for kids poster