Internet safety is a very important skill for minors to develop. By following a few simple guidelines and respecting your and others’ personal boundaries, you can help reduce the risk of harm online. Consider this advice to help protect you from potential dangers, and remember that you are so welcome here. You deserve to feel supported, secure, and safe, and this can help keep you safe!
- Be cautious giving out personal information — such as your real name, phone number, SSN, where you live, where you work, or where you go to school.
- No one should ask you for that information — on AfterLife or other sites. If you are under 18, be especially careful about sharing your exact address, SSN, or legal name. Stand up for yourself and don’t feel shy to say no if you don’t want to answer a question.
- Be mindful when posting about events — avoid giving too much information about where you’ll be beforehand. Consider waiting until after the event has passed to post that you went or share pictures.
- Reach out to admins or mods — if you EVER are made to feel uncomfortable. You may be here of your own will, but no one should be forcing themselves on you in any way.
While it’s unfortunate to have to list these rules at all, they are important to remember. There are people who wish to do harm unto and take advantage of others, and it is our job to protect against them! Protecting ourselves by following these guidelines and reporting abusive or malicious online intent helps keep this site a wonderful and secure place to hang out for people of all ages.
Further Reading
- FTC — Protecting Kids Online — Federal Trade Commission resources on children’s privacy and online safety.
- NCMEC NetSmartz — Internet safety lessons, games, and videos created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
- StopBullying.gov — Government resources about cyberbullying prevention and support.
- StaySafeOnline.org — Tips from the National Cybersecurity Alliance for safe online habits.