Rule One:
Never give out personal information about yourself to friends that you may meet online. This includes your real name, where you live, your phone number, pictures of you, or the name of the school you attend. Your screen name is all that anyone needs to know.
Remember that the "friends" that you meet online may sound nice, but they might just be acting. You can't always tell when people online are telling the truth and when they are lying. Because you can't see or hear a person online, it is easy for someone to lie about who they really are. Someone who says that she is a 12 year old girl could really be an adult man trying to trick kids into meeting him.
Never make plans to meet your online friends in person. If one of your online friends is trying to get you to meet him or her in person, make sure that you tell your parents. If you and your parents decide to meet an online friend, make sure that you never go alone.
Make sure that you are with your parents or a group of friends, and that you are meeting in a public place where there are lots of other people around. Please remember that many kids, teens, and adults go missing each year - and not just as a result of kidnapping. Most cases are where the victim agrees to meet someone of their own free will - often times they agree to meet someone who they think is a "friend" that they met online. We don't want this to happen to any of our friends at Trollz.com - so please be careful.
Rule Two:
If somebody says something to you, sends you something, or you see something that makes you uncomfortable, don't look around or explore. Get your parents instead - they will know what to do. If this happens on the Trollz.com site, please let us know using this form and we will take the necessary action.
Rule Three:
Don't open up e-mails, files, or Web pages that you get from people you don't really know or trust. Someone could be trying to send you a virus that could hurt your computer, or something that you don't really want to see. Before opening up an email from a stranger, show your parents first so that they can decide if it is best to open the email, or best to delete it. If you get an email from someone that makes you uncomfortable or that you think is weird, don't respond to it. Instead, show it to your parents or an adult you trust so that they can decide what is best to do.
Rule Four:
Other users may ask you to message with them using instant messaging services like Microsoft Instant Messenger (IM) and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) or private e-mail accounts. Remember that Trollz.com cannot be responsible for off-site IM and AIM messaging or off-site e-mail sent between our users.
Rule Five:
Don't ever give out your password to anyone on the Trollz.com site. Remember, our staff will never ask you for your password. You password is your secret and you should not give it to anyone! If anyone does try to get you to reveal your password, please report them using this form.
Rule Six:
Trollz.com is completely free, but not all sites are. There are links on this site that will lead you to companies offering things for sale. Don't ever do anything that could cost your family money unless your parents are there to help you do it.
Rule Seven:
When in doubt, always ask your parents for help -- and just LOG OFF if you're not sure! You can always go back online later.
Rule Eight:
Always follow your family's rules for the Internet - they're there to make sure you have fun and stay safe on-line.
GetNetWise is a great online resource for families that, with the click of a mouse, will deliver information and tools needed to guide children to a safe, enriching experience online. It is the result of a broad industry effort to create an online environment where families feel empowered with the tools and information they need to safeguard children while providing access to an unprecedented wealth of global resources, information, and contacts available on the Internet. We would suggest that parents and kids look at this site together and talk about what they learn there. |
