Safety Online

At Studentbox our primary concern is you. That's why we've "hand crafted" these tips below to help you stay safe when online. In the spirit of "hand crafting" we've borrowed a video from Youtube that sums up online safety in a handy 1.47 minutes (warning... this is in American).

As usual, if you've got any questions just email us.

1) Playing it safe online

Meeting new friends online is pretty fun. Actually, it's AWESOME. There's a whole world of people out there ready to be your friend… or are they? Since you can't really tell the motives of people you meet online you should ALWAYS be wary. The golden rule is always never give out private information!

Here are some simple tips to bear in mind when using Studentbox:

• Be careful who you trust online. Because you can't really tell the motives of people you meet online you should always exercise caution
• Choose your friends. Don't accept friend requests if you're not sure about the person. Chances are Britney Spears aint Britney Spears.
• Never agree to meet someone you've met online without a trusted friend or family member in attendance. If you do meet someone, make sure it's in a public place and always during daytime hours.
• Keep your personal details private. Don't give anyone on the studentbox your name, address, phone number or any other personal details if you are unsure. Identity theft is on the rise so be wary of what info you give out! Plus if the robots do take over the world in a Terminator-esque scenario chances are you're next on the list after John Connor.
• Always keep your password secret. This is obvious but still VERY important.
• Think twice about what you say and post. If it's not something you'd want your mum to see, don't post it!
• Never send your bank details to Nigeria… or your mum's for that matter.

2) Cyberbullying
Unfortunately, there will always be someone who gets a kick out of bullying. Whether it's calling names, spreading rumours, or at worst, threatening someone, bullying is as old as the hills. The internet is no exception. In some instances, the bully thinks they can get away with the crime because it's seemingly untraceable online.

Incorrect. Not only is it traceable it's also unacceptable. At its most serious, cyberbullying is illegal and can be investigated by the police.

No-one has the right to bully another person.

Here are some tips to help if you, or your friends, are being bullied online. Remember, bullying is something we can all stand up to.

• Tell someone – family members or people you trust.
• Tell us – we care about your welfare and will look into it ASAP. Drop an email to our community coordinator.
• Tell your school - they should have policies in place about bullying and cyberbullying
• Ignore them – don't respond! Don't give fuel to the fire.
• Keep a record of what was said – this is useful in tracking and bringing a bully down!

The Australian Federal Government's Cybersmart website has an excellent video on dealing with cyberbullying.

3) Unwanted attention
Is someone sending you offensive emails? Are you getting weirded out by pics and conversations coming from an online friend? It sounds like you've got unwanted attention.

Don't worry though, here are some tips to tackle these little pieces of work....

• Tell someone – family members or people you trust
• Tell us – we care about your welfare and will look into it ASAP. Drop an email to our community coordinator
• Ignore them – don't respond! You know the metaphor – responding is like a red rag to a bull. Hahaha don't be a matador to that metaphor!
• Block them - it stops them sending messages to you – YOU HAVE THE POWER!
• What if I don't have someone to talk to? If you feel uncomfortable about talking to family members about this you can always call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, visit their website or contact the Cybersmart Online Helpline service.

The Mashable social media website has some timely info about dealing with unwanted online attention.

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