Safety Tips upon joining Social Networks

1. No social networking site is safe, including myYearbook.
   Reporting bad people to the police is important. Remember to call law enforcement if threatened.
2. Don't lie about your age.
   If you lie about your age, your profile may be deleted without notice.
3. Don't give out your contact information.
   myYearbook is a public space, including your profile. Anything you post is available to the whole world. Don't post things you wouldn't want the whole world to know. Don't post your phone number, address, IM screen name, or your specific whereabouts.
4. Report nudity, harassment, hate speech, and other inappropriate content.
   Call the cops if you think anyone is in danger.
5. You can be denied admission to college or a job based on things you put in your profile.
   It has happened. Don't let it happen to you. Don't post things that can embarrass you later.
6. Don't meet people in real life that you only “know” online.
   As you have heard in the news surrounding MySpace, people who have met others in real life have been raped or murdered. Predators are out there, and they are very dangerous. Don't meet people in real life. They may not be who they pretend to be. If you do decide to meet someone you've met on line, tell your parents first, meet in a public place and bring a trusted adult.
7. Sex with an underage person is rape.
   It does not matter if that person lied about their age. It's rape and you will go to prison.
8. Don't be a cyber bully.
   In many states, you can be charged with a crime. If you are being bullied here are some things you can do to make it stop: call the police -- best idea; block the harasser -- doesn't always work; delete your profile -- starting over isn't really that hard; document your harassment -- save your IMs, text, and messages to give to the police; don't respond -- sometimes they will get bored and go away; don't ever meet them -- this is the worst thing you can possibly do. You never know who you are dealing with. Always assume the worst.
9. Get Suicide Help.
   If you or anyone you know needs help with depression, coping, or life in general, free help is available. Tell an adult or trusted friend, or contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-784-2433 or through your state crisis center at http://suicidehotlines.com. You can also check out http://www.hopeline.com and http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
10. Take Threats Seriously.
    If you read threats of suicide, violence, or other illegal behavior on a profile or message, forward the link to your local authorities. You can always call 9-1-1. You do not want to be the person who failed to act and as a result have a tragedy like Columbine or VA Tech happen.