Internet & Social Media Safety:Tips for Teens

OBJECTIVES

Following completion of this session you will be able to:

• Identify common mistakes made when using social media

• Identify safety best practices to ensure your personal information and identity are safe when using social media

• Identify resources available with information on social media safety

We Are All Connected

Thanks to the Internet, we are now connected to each other through a variety of media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram…and the list goes on…

…being connected has its advantages and disadvantages

Internet/Social Media Advantages

While social media can get a bad wrap, it does have its advantages, such as:

• Helping us keep connected to friends and loved ones• Putting information at the tips of our fingers within seconds• Allowing us to buy/sell items without leaving our homes• Assisting us with job searching and applying

What are some other advantages of social media you can think of?

Internet/Social Media Disadvantages

Since information can be viewed and sent in a matter of seconds, social media does have some disadvantages, like:

• Making our personal information visible to strangers/hackers• Portraying/displaying information that is inaccurate/false• Opening the door to cyber-bullying and harassment• Making us vulnerable to predators and criminals

What are some other disadvantages of social media you can think of?

Keeping Everything Safe

Social Media

is Everywhere

Internet/Social Media Stats

According to the National Crime Prevention Council, the following statistics regarding social media prove just how careful everyone must be to remain safe:

• In 2006 the FBI Computer Crime Survey estimated an annual lost of $67 billion from computer crimes

• 81% of all home computer lack basic Internet/social media protection

• Each time someone is caught regarding a phishing crime, it costs the impacted individual an average of $850

• In the last year, identify theft crimes have impacted 8.9 million Americans, with an average financial impact on the victim of $6,383

Identity Theft

The 2013 Movie ‘Identify Thief’ showed us a comical view of what happens when someone steals your identity, but what is Identify Theft?

• The stealing of an individual’s identity with the intent of personal gain, whether by running up high debts on credit cards, or taking over personal bank accounts

The Bureau of Justice found that households with individuals between the ages of 18-24 to be the most highly targeted by identity thieves Universal Studios

Types of Internet/Social Media Crimes

In a recent study of different types of Internet/social media crimes, the following were identified as the most common:

• SPAM: This is where you receive unsolicited emails/mass messages from unknown parties, usually searching for personal information

• FRAUD: Some computers, especially public computers, can log keystrokes, making it easy for criminals to figure out things like Social Security Numbers, credit card numbers and addresses

• CYBER BULLYING: Harassment is harassment, whether in-person or via the Internet – in many states it is punishable by law

• PIRACY: An electronic version of stealing, typically involving the illegal downloading of music, movies or other media

• SPYWARE: Also known as adware, software that allows criminals to track passwords, websites and keystrokes you commonly utilize

Top 10 Mistakes Made by Teens on Facebook

According to safetyweb.com, the Top 10 most common mistakes made by teens on Facebook include:

1. Not using privacy settings2. Letting the world see their profile3. Using their full name4. Posting inappropriate comments5. Posting inappropriate photos6. Friending people they do not know7. Sharing their account password8. Not reporting unwanted or harassing messages9. Ignoring controlling behavior of an ex10. Ignoring Facebook’s signup policy

Staying Safe in Cyber World

Since our world is becoming increasingly digital, criminals will continue to become more creative in their approaches. As a result, we must be diligent at protecting our information:

• Never give out personal or identifying information such as name, address, school name, birth date or phone number

• Never post a picture of yourself without check with parents/guardians – noting what is behind you in pictures

• Make sure you are dealing with someone you and your parents/guardians know and trust before sharing any information

• Do not put personal information or interests in your Instant Messaging profile as this can be copied and saved by anyone

• Remember, just because someone may ask doesn’t mean you have to tell them anything

Staying Safe in Cyber World (Passwords)

Passwords are great at helping protect our information; however, they can only do so much. Be sure you remember the following:

• Do not share your passwords with anyone but your parents/guardians, this includes your best friend

• No one should ever ask you for your password, including anyone online

• When using a public computer or public wireless network, be sure to ‘log out’ of all sites, simply closing the browser window is not enough

Staying Safe in Cyber World (Cyber Bullying)

Cyber bullying is a crime! In some states it can even mean jail time, depending on the severity. Remember the following:

• Do not send mean or insulting messages/emails to anyone• If a person is sending messages that are mean or make you

feel uncomfortable, do not respond, log off and tell a parent/guardian or school personnel

• When in doubt, ask for help. If you are unsure about a message, consult a parent/guardian or school personnel

• Remember that nothing you write in cyber world (Internet, social media, text, IM, etc.) is private, everything can be tracked; think about what you write

Staying Safe in Cyber World (Scams)

All that glitters isn’t gold! Be cautious of fun or free offers on the Internet. Practice the following tips:

• Avoid ‘clicking’ on ads to win prizes, as they often times request personal information to steal your identity

• Do not buy items online without consulting your parent/guardian; ensure purchases are made from a trusted site with a ‘https://’ in the web address

• Never open attachments from individuals you do not know; if in doubt, ask for help

• Avoid downloading software to your computer, as it can also install spyware software without your knowledge

• Remind your parents/guardians to install and always update your anti-virus software

Staying Safe in Cyber World (Online Friends)

Finally, in a world where digital relationships almost outnumber in-person relationships, keep the following in mind at all times:

• NEVER…NEVER…NEVER agree to meet anyone you encounter online that you and your parents/guardians do not already know

• Remember…not everything you read/see online is true• Ignore and/or block unwanted friend requests from

individuals you do not already know• IMMEDIATELY report anyone you suspect may be seeking

personal information and/or makes you feel uncomfortable at any time

Resources for Teens

The following resources are from trusted sites and designed to help keep teens safe while online:

National Crime Prevention Council:Website: www.ncpc.org

Safetyweb:Website: www.safetyweb.com

Watchwellcast (YouTube):Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrln8nyVBLUNOTE: This is a great video for kids and teens with

important Internet safety tips!

Team Activity

We just went over common cyber crimes and strategies for keeping your personal information safe. As a team, you will now be tasked with the following:

MISSION: Create a TV commercial, poster or other form of media announcement related to cyber safety

REQUIREMENTS: Media announcement must be engaging while also conveying important safety tips to viewers

TIME ALLOTMENT: You will have 20-25 minutes to work on this before

presenting the final product to the group

OBJECTIVES

Following completion of this session you will be able to:

• Identify common mistakes made when using social media

• Identify safety best practices to ensure your personal information and identity are safe when using social media

• Identify resources available with information on social media safety

QUESTIONS

What questions are there at this time?