Safe Surfing Guide

SAFE SURFING GUIDE


The Internet is a great place to have fun, but some people may try to use this for their own more dangerous purposes. Remember, people on messages boards, social media or in chatrooms may not be who they say they are. You can't hear them or see them so you don't really know if they are telling the truth.
Unfortunately, you cannot automatically trust anyone you meet online. Have a look below for advice on how best to protect yourself and make sure your on-line experience is fun and exciting as it should be!
This guide is really aimed at younger users of the Website but the advice may be just as applicable to adult users.

IF YOU ARE UNDER 16 ALWAYS TELL A TRUSTED ADULT
If you are under 13 we always ask that you get the permission of your parents or legal guardian before joining. If you are under 16 you should always let your parents or legal guardian know that you are using a message board or chatroom. If you are over 13 but under 16 you can register in your own right but as with adults using the Website you should still be careful.

DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION
Please don't post personally identifiable information on any forum posts, in chat rooms or in publicly viewable social media pages, events or groups
You should never give out the following information about yourself:
* Full name
* Address
* Telephone number
* Mobile number
* E-mail address
* School name
* Log-in password
Personal information also includes links such as your Facebook, instagram, twitter account, or any details which other users can contact you directly.
Also think about your friends and family. You should make sure you don't give out any of this information about them.
You should use a nickname - not your real nickname or pet's name. Take the chance to come up with a new and exciting username for your profile.

NEVER ARRANGE TO MEET A WEB PAL
You should never arrange to meet a web pal. However long you have been chatting or however well you think you know them it is risky. The more insistent somebody is about meeting you the more careful you should be.
If you really are determined to meet, you must tell your parents or any other trusted adult and ask them to come along with you. You must never go alone.

LET SOMEONE KNOW IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE
Remember, you are in control. If somebody is starting to bother you and is sending you nasty messages, you should never respond. Print the message off and tell your parents, legal guardian, teacher or any other adult you trust. You can also log off if you feel uncomfortable.
There is absolutely no reason for anybody to put up with other people being nasty at school, home or anywhere and the Internet is no different. We never want these kind of people using our websites so please e-mail us at contact@virtuositymusicgroup.com and tell us about the nasty messages and who they came from.

DON'T OPEN JUNK MAIL
If you've signed up you'll get messages from us about your favourite artists and perhaps some others we think you'll like. You know the message is from us and that's okay. If you get messages from senders you don't know, or anything that looks suspicious then you should delete them. You should not read them and you should never reply, even to say you don't want to receive more messages. You should also tell your parents and any other trusted adult.

GENERAL ONLINE SAFETY - GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS
ASK QUESTIONS
The best form of Online Safety begins at home with you, the parent. We offer you the following tips to keep your child safe on the Internet.
The best way to know what your child is doing online is to ask. Whether you ask other parents, an Internet-savvy friend, or your child about how they use the Internet asking the right questions will help you understand what your child is doing online so you can make sure they are making safe online choices.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD:
* What sites / apps do you use?
* What do you do on those sites / apps?
* Why do you go to that site /app?
* How much time do you spend on the site /app?
* Did you have to register?
* What information did they ask for?
* What information did you give?
* Spend time surfing the Web with your child. This is a great way to learn about what types of interactions your child is having online, and with whom.

COMMUNICATE
Once you have an idea of how your child uses the Internet and what is available to them, you can establish online guidelines and rules. Whether it's setting guidelines about which sites and apps to visit or what's okay to do online, it is essential to clearly communicate the rules to your child.
Speak often to your child about potential risks and what to do in various situations. Encourage your child to ask questions about situations they run into. Being aware of the risks your child faces, and communicating frequently with your child about these risks, will help develop their judgment and responsibility about Internet usage.

SAFETY RULES
While the Internet offers amazing opportunities for entertainment, education, connectivity, and more, anyone who goes online should understand basic Online Safety. Teaching these basics to your children is essential.
* When asked by friends or strangers, online or offline, never share Account IDs, Passwords or images of yourself or anyone else unless you are comfortable with them being viewed publicly.
* Don't reveal any personal identity information in your Screen Names, such as your birthday, hobbies, hometown or school.
* In any information exchange, like e-mail or chat, never give any personal information about yourself or someone else.
* Don't share photos of yourself, your family, or your home with people you meet online.
* Never open e-mails that come from unknown sources delete them.
* If you receive mean or threatening comments online, don't respond. Log off and report the activity to your parents.
* Nothing you write on the Web is completely private. Be careful what you write and to whom.
* Never make plans to meet an online "friend" in person.
When in doubt: Always ask your parents for help. If you're not sure, log off.

SAFETY RESOURCES
Children as young as two are interacting with the Internet from their parents' laps. As they get older, however, they may begin to venture online by themselves, with as much support and guidance as you can provide. It is up to parents to decide which controls to put in place and when to ease up as children grow and mature in their decision-making. Here are some resources that you can use to shape your child's Internet usage:
* Many sites have guides for parents. Take a look to make sure that you understand how the sites your child visits approach safety.
* Some sites offer parental controls. Take advantage of parental controls to determine what your child has access to.
* Most browsers have settings that can block Web sites or entire domains. Use these controls to pre-select Web sites children can or cannot visit.
* Monitor which apps your child has downloaded. Note, sometimes they may be hidden in folders and not immediately visible when looking at the screen.
* Research software available that can monitor children's Internet use.
* Review the privacy policies of your child's favourite sites to be aware of what kind of information is being collected about your child, and how it is being used.
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CYBER BULLIES
Just as a child may encounter bullying or aggressive behaviour from other students in school, they may be subject to bullying online. So-called "cyber bullies" may send harmful and cruel words or images through the Internet or an electronic device such as a cell phone, in order to harass, embarrass, humiliate, and threaten their target. Other forms of bullying include password hacking, identity theft and blackmail. Many kids may be equally likely to become bullies or victims. While some are anonymous, cyber bullies are often kids who are known by a child from their school, camp, community group, or neighbourhood.
It is important to talk openly with children about how to handle cyber bullying issues. If your child encounters a form of cyber bullying, remember that bullies thrive on the reactions of their targets. Children should avoid escalating the situation by refraining from responding to the bully. Parents should contact your local authorities if the problem persists. Be sure to save all messages, including dates and time.
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