Top tips for staying safe online
Have you thought about how you are using the internet? Here's our top tips for staying safe online and being more mindful about your online presence and social media usage.
Have you thought about how you are using the internet? Here's our top tips for staying safe online and being more mindful about your online presence and social media usage.
Fact Check!
Not everything you read on the internet is fact! Is the content you are engaging with trustworthy?
It’s easy to believe the things we read on the internet. Especially if it is coming from someone whose content we enjoy, or the post is framed in a way that seems believable. Make sure you check what you engage with is from a trustworthy source.
One of the great things about the internet is the ability to engage with content that shares our values. Unfortunately, this also means that people can post and share content that is hateful or untruthful. It is important we are mindful of what we engage with and the impact it may have if we engage with it.
Internet Trends!
Don’t feel pressured to join in on internet trends! You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.
Although there may be pressures from peers to join in on trends, you don’t have to join in if they aren’t for you.
Engage with what brings you joy. Try finding online communities of likeminded people with similar interests and hobbies as you! This is a great way to engage with something positive to you and contribute to a community.
Stop and think…
Think before you post. Once its online, it could be there forever or shared publicly by anyone!
Having our own social media profiles can be great. We can express ourselves however we want to, have creative freedom on our personal pages and interact with our friends and likeminded communities.
It is however, important to think about what you are posting. Is it safe to share? How comfortable you are with sharing? Once your post is out there anyone can re-share it or screenshot the post and it could be out there forever!
Take a look at the privacy settings on the pages you use and set them so only friends/followers can see what you post.
Take Regular breaks!
Remember to take breaks. Sometimes too much online time can warp our idea of reality.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of being online and social media?
Perhaps go for a walk, spend some time with a friend or engage in an activity that doesn’t require being online. Maybe even try something new!
Who can help?
Do you know where you can turn if you need help with online safety?
Have a think about who you can turn to discuss internet safety. What can you actively do to feel safe? Maybe try some of our tips!
Check out these organisations for more information and support: