Welcome to Online Safety: Using Technology Respectfully and Responsibly!
Hello! Welcome to your study guide on recognising acceptable and unacceptable behaviour online. We use technology every single day—whether we are playing games with friends, doing schoolwork, or watching videos. Just like our school playground or classroom, the digital world is a shared space. That means the way we treat people online matters just as much as how we treat them face-to-face.
Don't worry if some of these ideas seem new or tricky at first. We will break down everything step-by-step with clear examples, helpful memory tricks, and easy tips to help you stay safe, happy, and kind online!
---1. The Golden Rule of Online Behaviour
The most important rule to remember when using any device is simple:
The Golden Rule: Treat people online exactly the way you would treat them in real life.
Anonymity is Not Invisibility
Sometimes when we are online, we use an avatar, a gamer tag, or a nickname. This can make people feel like they are wearing an invisible disguise. But remember:
• Behind every screen and username is a real person with real feelings.
• Even if you use a nickname, your actions leave a digital footprint that can be traced back to your device and account.
School Rules: Acceptable Use Agreements (AUA / AUP)
At school, you likely signed an Acceptable Use Agreement (AUA) or Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This is a special promise you make to use school computers and tablets safely, politely, and only for learning.
Key Takeaway: Typing behind a screen does not change right from wrong. Real feelings exist on both sides of the screen!
---2. Acceptable vs Unacceptable Online Behaviour
How do we know if something we do online is good or bad? Let's sort behaviours into two clear groups:
Acceptable Behaviour (Being a Great Digital Citizen)
• Practising Good Netiquette: "Netiquette" means good internet manners. This includes speaking politely, saying please and thank you, and avoiding typing in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS (because in text, ALL CAPS LOOKS LIKE SHOUTING!).
• Respecting Privacy: Always asking permission before you take or share a photo or video of a friend or family member.
• Asking Before Using: Asking permission before touching, editing, or sharing someone else's digital work, art, or account.
• Being an Upstander: An upstander is someone who stands up for others by reporting bad behaviour and supporting friends who are upset, rather than just watching silently.
Unacceptable Behaviour (Harms and Misconduct)
• Cyberbullying: Repeatedly sending mean messages, leaving people out of online games on purpose, posting embarrassing pictures, or spreading rumours online.
• Trolling and Flaming: Trolling is intentionally posting upsetting or annoying messages just to make people angry. Flaming means starting angry, hostile arguments online.
• Impersonation and Catfishing: Pretending to be someone else, making fake accounts, or logging into someone else’s account without their permission.
• Accessing or Sharing Inappropriate Material: Looking at or forwarding content that is violent, offensive, scary, or not made for your age group.
• Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement: Copying someone else's work, pictures, or writing and pretending that you made it yourself.
Did You Know? A bystander is someone who sees bad behaviour but does nothing. An upstander takes safe action by telling an adult or clicking the report button!
Key Takeaway: Acceptable behaviour builds people up with kindness and respect. Unacceptable behaviour causes distress, breaks trust, or hurts others.
---3. The "4Cs" Risk Framework
When you are online, there are four main types of risks you should be able to spot. We call them the 4Cs:
1. Content (What you see):
This is the material you come across. It is a risk if you see things that are violent, upsetting, hateful, fake, or meant only for older adults.
2. Contact (Who you communicate with):
This is about who reaches out to you. It is a risk when strangers, fake profiles, or people you don't know in real life try to message or add you.
3. Conduct (How people behave):
This is about behaviour and actions. It includes cyberbullying, trolling, sharing private photos without asking, or breaking school computer rules.
4. Commerce (Money, scams, and tricks):
This is about financial risks. It includes hidden costs in games, pop-up adverts promising free prizes, or scams trying to trick you into spending real money.
Key Takeaway: Remember the 4Cs: Content (what you see), Contact (who you meet), Conduct (how people act), and Commerce (money and scams).
---4. The SMART Rules for Staying Safe
A brilliant way to remember how to protect yourself online is by using the SMART rules:
• S - Safe: Keep your personal information private. Never share your full name, home address, phone number, school name, or passwords. (Passwords should only ever be shared with your parents or carers!).
• M - Meet: Never arrange to meet up with someone you only know online. People online might not be who they say they are. Always check with a trusted adult first.
• A - Accepting: Be careful before opening emails, links, game invites, or downloads from people you don't know. They could contain viruses, scams, or nasty messages.
• R - Reliable: Remember that not everything you read or see on the internet is true! Check facts with books, trusted websites, or an adult.
• T - Tell: Always tell a parent, carer, teacher, or trusted adult if something online makes you feel confused, worried, or uncomfortable.
Key Takeaway: When in doubt, follow SMART: Safe, Meet, Accepting, Reliable, and Tell!
---5. What To Do: "Zip It, Block It, Flag It" and Reporting
If you see something upsetting or someone is behaving unacceptably, follow these three simple steps:
Step 1: Zip It
Keep your personal details, passwords, and private settings locked up tight. Do not reply to mean or angry messages.
Step 2: Block It
Use the block button inside your game, app, or website so the person cannot message you or see your profile anymore.
Step 3: Flag It
Report the bad behaviour! Click the report or flag button on the website or game, and tell a trusted adult right away.
Important Step: Gathering Evidence
Before you delete a nasty message or block a user, ask an adult to help you take a screenshot. This saves a picture of the evidence so teachers or parents can see exactly what happened and take action.
Who Can Help You?
• Trusted Adults: Your parents, carers, teachers, or teaching assistants.
• Childline (0800 1111): A free, private UK phone helpline and website run by the NSPCC where you can talk to someone anytime you feel worried.
• CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command): An official UK police team where you can report adults who are acting inappropriately or making you feel unsafe online.
• Internet Watch Foundation (IWF): A UK service that works to remove illegal and harmful content from the internet.
Key Takeaway: Remember to Zip It, Block It, Flag It, take a screenshot for evidence, and talk to a trusted adult!
---6. Common Mistakes and Misconceptions (Watch Out!)
Let's look at five common mistakes people make about the online world:
1. The "Screen Shield" Mistake
The Mistake: Thinking that mean words sent over text or in game chat don't hurt as much as words said out loud.
The Truth: Mean words hurt just as much on a screen. Online messages can be saved, reread, and shared, causing a lot of sadness.
2. The "Online Friend" Mistake
The Mistake: Believing that someone you play an online game with every day is a real-life friend.
The Truth: Anyone can pretend to be a child, use a fake photo, or lie about their age on the internet. Treat online contacts as strangers unless you know them well in real life.
3. The "Password Sharing" Mistake
The Mistake: Sharing your game or email password with your best friend to prove you trust them.
The Truth: Passwords must be kept private. Friends can accidentally share them, change your settings, or lock you out of your account. Only share passwords with parents or carers!
4. The "I Didn't Write It" Mistake
The Mistake: Thinking that liking, sharing, or laughing at a mean post about someone else is okay because you didn't write it.
The Truth: Liking or forwarding mean comments makes the bullying bigger and hurts the person more. Be an upstander and report it instead.
5. The "Fear of Getting in Trouble" Mistake
The Mistake: Keeping quiet about an upsetting message because you are scared your parents will take your tablet or computer away.
The Truth: Adults want to keep you safe, not punish you for asking for help. Always tell them when something goes wrong!
Quick Summary Checklist
Before you finish, check that you can tick off all these key points:
• I treat others online with the same kindness and respect I show in person.
• I know that netiquette means good manners, like not shouting in ALL CAPS.
• I understand the difference between being a silent bystander and an active upstander.
• I can spot the 4Cs: Content, Contact, Conduct, and Commerce.
• I follow the SMART rules to protect my personal information.
• I know how to Zip It, Block It, Flag It, take screenshots of evidence, and report concerns to trusted adults, Childline, or CEOP.