Safe and Kind Online

Pause

Before posting, consider what your words or pictures reveal. Ask permission before sharing someone else’s picture or story. Children: ask your parent before sharing personal information or adding an online contact.

Verify

Check the source, date, and context before passing along a claim. An online name or photograph does not prove who someone is. Be especially cautious when promises of love turn into requests for money.

Show compassion

Think about the person receiving your words. Avoid insults, rumors, and humiliation. If someone is being hurt online, seek support rather than joining in.

For families: stay involved.

Use parental controls alongside clear rules and ongoing conversations. Review settings on the devices your child uses. Ask children to explain what they would do if a stranger requested personal information, asked them to keep a conversation secret, or treated them cruelly. Federal Trade Commission: Parental controls and family conversations.

If bullying occurs, support the child, talk about what happened, and use appropriate reporting channels. For ordinary bullying messages, an adult can help keep a record. StopBullying.gov: Preventing and responding to cyberbullying.

For adults: do not face a suspicious promise alone.

If someone you have met only online asks for money or gifts, pause and speak with someone you trust. If you suspect a romance scam, stop communicating with the person. If you already paid, contact your bank or payment provider promptly and report the situation. Federal Trade Commission: Recognizing romance scams.

What would you do?

Choose a response and check your thinking. Children can work through these situations with a trusted adult. Your choices stay on this page and are not submitted.