Most people, young and old, can use a computer and mobile phone these days. Using computers, mobile phones, Tablets (like the ipad) and the internet can be fun and let you keep in touch with friends and family. But have you ever thought about what can go wrong? Have you ever had somebody say things or ask you things that you didn t like or felt awkward about? Have you ever been made to feel bad by what others say or do when using the internet or mobile phones? Have you ever been tempted to meet or actually met somebody you got to know over the internet or by mobile phone? Knowing what can go wrong before it does can keep you safe. Knowing what to do when it does go wrong can keep you safe. When you re safe you can enjoy all the good stuff the internet and mobile phones can let you do.
Cyber bullying is when someone uses computers, mobiles or other gadgets like digital video cameras over the internet or mobile networks to cause you hurt and harm. It could be by writing things about you that are not true or things that are private and you don t want anyone else to know. It could be calling you nasty names or trying to turn friends against you or even posting video of you on sites like You Tube that you wouldn t want other people to see. This can be very scary and make you upset, anxious and sad. A cyber bully can do all these things at any time of the day, everyday if they wanted to and they don t have to be in front of you to bully you. They can do it on social network sites like Facebook, MSN Messenger, Bebo, Twitter or by texting or phoning and on video hosting sites like You Tube. If it happens to you, first of all be aware that you can do something about it. Keep evidence of bullying. You can print what is on screen or write it down if you don t have a printer. Save texts and take note of the time the time you got the call at and what was said. Don t respond to the messages or calls. This only lets the cyber bully know that they are being successful and are more likely to continue. Let someone you trust know that this is happening to you. The person you trust could be a family member or relative, teacher, social worker or someone on the end of a special telephone help line or web site, like the ones listed on the back page of this booklet. Dealing with cyber bullies is easier when you have help. Contact the service provider for your social networking site or mobile. They usually have ways of reporting abuse of their site and if they don t its probably better to use providers that do.
Social Networking Sites like Facebook, MSN Messenger, Bebo, Twitter and others allow you to put up (Post) information and pictures about yourself and others so you can share with friends. Sometimes people post a lot of personal information. This also means that it can be shared with the bullies and it can go public, which means anyone can see it. Once it goes public it is very hard to get it back. Other could copy photos or use your information to steal your identity and pretend to be you. You might allow friends to see your page but do you know who your friends friends are? Some people think it s cool to have lots and lots of friends listed on their site. Sometimes these lists of friends can be in hundreds but ask yourself if they really are your friends and do you want them all to know everything about you. If you have an actual photograph of yourself on your profile, change it to a graphic like a cartoon or favourite animal or pop star. Sometimes bullies or nasty people find others to hassle just because of the way they look. Don t fill out all the information about yourself. Your real friends already know this. If you don t want certain information to be known to certain people don t post it at all.
mobiles/sexting Mobiles, especially Smart phones can do a lot more than make voice calls and send texts. They have cameras, map positioning and internet access. This means bullies and nasty people can hassle you if they know your number, which they may get from social networking sites if you post your number there. They can also listen to your voice messages. This is what happened in the phone hacking scandal when newspaper reporters listened in on celebrity voice mails. If you have Bluetooth and it s not locked, it s possible for others to access numbers and pictures on your mobile. Sexting is the term given to sending indecent pictures of yourself or others by mobile in picture messages. Indecent pictures can also be made up of letters and punctuation marks and sent as text messages. Once you ve sent a picture you ve lost control over it and they could be shown to anyone such as family, schools, employers or passed around other young people. They might then decide to tease or bully you about them. Sending or keeping indecent pictures can be a criminal offence if the person in the picture is underage. Don t post your number on social networking sites. Remember to change your remote voice mail access code. You will find out how to do this in your mobile instruction manual or by asking your provider customer services. Change your Bluetooth code from the one that is set at the factory, known as the default code and usually is 0000. Don t send any pictures of yourself or anyone else that could be used against you or them. Don t forward any pictures to others if you receive them and don't keep them, remember this could be a criminal offence if they are underage. Contact the service provider to have unwanted pictures removed from the networking site if they are posted and remember to tell someone you trust if this happens to you.
uploading video/gaming Videos that are uploaded onto sites like You Tube are there forever (unless taken down by the services Provider). People who would cause you harm could find things out about you that you might not tell otherwise, like what you and/or your friends look like, where you are or things you like to do. Nasty people could use this information to seem as if they know you already. Adults who are up to no good know that lots of people play games online *Chat and Play). These games allow players from all over the world to speak to each other through the game that they are playing. You could be encouraged to do and say things that makes you uncomfortable in order to help you reach the next level of the game. You could be asked to meet up to discuss ways to play or be asked for your phone number/email/photos and other information that then could be used against you. Consider if the videos identify you or a friend, where you live or the school you go to. Don t video yourself doing stuff you don t want anyone else to see. Don t do anything on a webcam in chat rooms, the other side can record it. Contact the Service Provider to remove video from their site. Remember it s only a game that you are playing, don t get carried away playing it so that its the only thing you think about. Don t use your real name or give out details about yourself. Use a graphic like a cartoon, object picture of something but not a real picture of yourself.
In chatrooms you can use the computer to type to communicate to others around the world. In some special social networking sites you can send instant messages to others which are just between you and them. They can also send messages to you. Some chatrooms allow you to use webcams, your phone or digital cameras as a webcam so that you can send or be sent images. There is no way of telling if the person you talk to is telling the truth. Even a picture or video (even webcam footage may not be of them). Some adults use this to make friends but want to hurt, harm, bully, hassle and abuse you should you arrange to meet with them. Eating disorder sites are often aimed at young people and young adults and can make you think that it is good for your looks and popularity with friends if you are very thin. They give a false impression of what people in general like to see in others. They promote ways of making you eat very little or making yourself sick after you do eat so that you become or stay very thin. Only talk to people you know and block anyone you don t know. They won t know that you ve blocked them, it will just appear offline. Save evidence of conversations so if anything does happen you can show it to an adult you trust. Learn how to block and save contacts and conversations. Don t use web, digital or mobile phone cameras to send images of yourself if you are not absolutely sure of who you are talking to. Never arrange to meet up with someone you don t really know. Block these sites and use filtering programmes on your computer. If you don t know how to do this ask an adult or friend you trust. If you feel that this might affect you contact your General Practitioner (GP) or an adult you can trust.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this booklet, talk to a person you can trust. This could be someone in your family, somebody that cares for you, a relative, a teacher or a social worker. You can also talk to Childline by phoning 0800 1111 or go online at www.childline.org.uk You can report bullying and online abuse to The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) at www.ceop.police.uk