Here's a quick and easy-to-follow set of rules to help you stay safe while you're playing or learning online. These rules are very important and will help you have fun without getting into trouble.

1. Only use chat rooms that are made for kids and that your parents have checked out for you.
2. When online, you need to always use a nickname that doesn't tell anyone anything about you. So nothing that includes your name or tells people if you're a girl or a boy.

3. It's never a good idea to put information about yourself online. If you go somewhere that asks you for personal details, then you need to stop and ask your parents, teacher, or another responsible adult for permission. Otherwise, your personal information should always be kept secret. Here is a list of what NOT to tell anyone online.

   • Do not tell them if you're a boy or a girl.
   • Do not use your real name—use a screen name (nickname) instead.
   • Do not give them your home address or tell them where you live.
   • Do not give anyone your phone number.
   • Do not give them your email address.
   • Don't tell them the name or location of your school.
   • Do not tell them where or when your parents work.
   • Don't give them any type of credit card or payment information.
   • Do not show your picture or tell them what you look like.
   • Never tell anyone your passwords.

   All of the personal details listed above are NEVER anybody else's business. If a person that you do not know asks for any of this information, you should notify an adult immediately.

4. If you're talking or chatting with someone online and they say or post something that makes you feel uncomfortable, mad or scared then you need to stop and tell an adult right away.
5. If you meet a friend online and you want to meet them somewhere to hang out, then you need to tell your parents first. Never meet someone you met online while you were alone.
6. Always treat people nicely while you're online. Never write anything mean or anything that would hurt another person's feelings.
7. If you ever want to borrow information from another Web site like a picture, video or something they've written, always try to ask for their permission. If you can't find their contact information then ask an adult to help you.
8. Do your best to only visit Web sites and search engines that your parents, teacher or librarian has told you about.
9. Remember that not everything that you read online is true. There is a lot of information on the Web and it can be very hard to know which things are true and which aren't. Ask your teacher or an adult when you've read something online and you're not sure it's true.
10. Always check with an adult before opening emails when you don't know who they're from.
11. Never download anything onto your computer without first asking a responsible adult.
12. If you ever receive an email that you aren't comfortable with, or that you think is not good for you to be seeing, then be sure to tell your parents right away.
13. If there someone write messages or emails to you that you do not know, or that your parents don't know, then tell your parents right away.
14. Have Fun!

The most important thing to remember is that your parents and your teachers are always there to help if something happens or if you feel like you need to talk about something. Sometimes kids use the Internet and chat rooms to pick on other kids or act like bullies. If this is happening to you or one of your friends, the best thing to do is to stop visiting those places online and tell an adult right away. The Internet can be a very fun place to play games and keep in touch with your friends. So, just follow these simple rules to be safe and be sure to have fun!