Ten Ways to Stay Safe on the Internet

Hosted by two young people named Victoria and Nick, and featuring interviews with peers, this guidance program covers essential Internet safety strategies, offering direct language that is sure to hit home with the target audience (“Imagine a bathroom with no door—or a bedroom with no curtains. There's no such thing as privacy on the Internet.”). The tips covered here include the sterling advice of not having the same password for different accounts (a sensitive subject for many but key to keeping accounts protected), texting and driving (don't), texting and walking (don't), and “sexting” (don't). Not only is the latter a bad idea in general, but many teens don't realize that provocative pictures of anyone under the age of 18 can be considered child pornography (several high-profile cases are mentioned here). While much of this is common sense, some points are less well-known, such as the fact that metadata attached by default to most photos shows the geographic coordinates where the photos were taken (which can reveal more information than intended when photos are posted to the Internet). Also offered are suggestions on managing privacy settings and a discussion of the risks of certain apps claiming that photos disappear instantly—not always the case. A solid, helpful guide to increasing one's safety on the Internet, this is highly recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (C. Block)