SHAPING A POSITIVE FUTURE 2011
CYBER LIFE...
The internet can be a great place for us to connect with the world. We can travel to far off places at the click of a button from the comfort of our bedrooms or our phones. We all love using sites like Facebook, Twitter, MSN to chat with family and friends, share some gossip and upload pics from that great weekend. Going online should be fun and safe, but sometimes things can go wrong, get out of hand and gossip can quickly turn into bullying or abuse.
Cyber bullying is a growing problem faced by young people, and knowing what to do and who to turn to is important in making sure you stay safe and stand up to those who may be bullying you or someone you know online. Cyber bullying can take many forms; Email, instant messenger, chatrooms, social networking and mobile phones.
You may meet someone in an online chat room, but they may not be who they say they are. Make sure you are safe online and know where to go if you ever need help or advice. Don’t become part of the problem, be part of the solution!
The ‘CYBER LIFE’ is part of ‘Shaping a Positive Future’ the youth information campaign hosted right here on Swoosh until June 2012. The ‘CYBER LIFE’ campaign will help show you how to stay safe online, how to report abuse and bullying and where to get support.
What does it take to be cyber safe?
Staying safe online means being smart; knowing what’s right, what’s wrong and what to do when something bad happens. Here are Swoosh’s top 10 tips for being safe online…
Top 10 Tips
- Keep your passwords safe and never share them. Change them regularly
- Never give out personal information like: address, phone number, bank details etc
- Keep your social network profile private and accept only friends you know
- Think carefully about what you post and message online. Is something you might regret or has the potential to hurt someone you know?
- Don’t share photos and videos of yourself with people you don’t know and never share provocative photos and videos. Once these are uploaded – you can lose control of them
- Always report bulling and abuse. Tell a parent, a friend, a youth worker or report it to CEOP: www.ceop.police.uk
- Never agree to meet an ‘online’ friend in person, they may not be who they say they are. If you are absolutely certain they are legitimate, take a parent or guardian with you
- Protect your mobile phone with a password or pin code, so only you have access to it. Be careful who you share your number with and remember phones with GPS and apps can reveal your location
- Always log off your social network profiles and computer when you end your session, especially if you use shared computers in public places or schools and libraries
- Surf Safely - only use websites that are legal, safe and age appropriate
‘CYBER LIFE’ Campaign Tour
You can take part in the campaign tour and workshops in participating schools and youth centres:
Workshop Days:
Ashgrove School – Wednesday 14th March 2012
Beechwood College – Tuesday 20th March 2012
Workshop Evenings:
Llantwit Major Youth Centre – Wednesday 22nd February 2012
Area 41 Youth Centre, Barry – Wednesday 29th February 2012
Competitions
Swoosh, www.swoosh.me.uk, needs you to get involved! We would like you to upload your experiences, articles, stories right here on Swoosh. It may be a written article, a poem, a piece of artwork or photography- the more creative the better, you can even upload a video or tell us about a video you think is really helpful!
To enter the ‘CYBER LIFE’ campaign competitions simply upload your entry to Swoosh. It must be about the cyber world, modern technology, social networking safety, cyber bullying etc. The winner will be selected by a judging panel for the most inspirational upload!
The prize for the Most Inspirational upload is a mysterious goodie bag of vouchers and treats that you can spend and enjoy with a friend, or keep completely to yourself!
The closing date for the ‘LIFE’ Campaign competition is 31st March 2012.
Useful Organisations - CYBER LIFE: Online Safety and Bullying
Know The Net
www.knowthenet.org.uk
General website about the net and online safety.
WISE KIDS
www.wisekids.org.uk
Promotes safe internet use for young people.
Kidscape
www.kidscape.org.uk
Provides info, resources and advice on bullying and cyber bullying.
Cyber Bullying UK
www.cyberbullying.co.uk
Part of www.bullying.co.uk, the national anti-bullying website.
Cyber Mentors
www.cybermentors.org.uk
A site by and for young people, helping and supporting each other online.
Meic
Call: 080880 23456 Text: 84001
www.meiccymru.org
Free, confidential advice by phone or online for young people aged 0-25
CLIConline
www.cliconline.co.uk
National site for young people aged 11-25 with info sections on family and relationships, including sexual health. Also lists helpful organisations.
Swoosh
www.swoosh.me.uk
Part of the CLIConline network, based in the Vale of Glamorgan, with info sections and lists of helpful organisations.
