HighSchoolPlaybook.com Safety Tips
On the internet, things aren’t always as they seem. Sure, most people you meet online are normal and cool – but it’s way easy for people to misrepresent themselves or straight-up lie about who they are. Even though we’ve got “moderators” working around the clock to make sure no nasty videos or photos are uploaded, we can’t be everywhere all the time. So help us keep HighSchoolPlaybook.com a safe place to play: report users who are up to anything sketchy, offensive, or illegal.
And here are a few ideas on how to stay safe online.
- Trust your gut: if something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn't. Report that user or that activity to us right away.
- Don’t ever misrepresent your age or your identity – it's a flat-out lie and totally creepy.
- Be responsible. When you’re on HighSchoolPlaybook.com, you represent your community, your school, and your teams – so even if you think it’s funny to cross the line, don’t put someone else’s rep at risk.
- It's okay to talk a little trash – rivalries are great for competition. But if you start being a total jerk online, it takes the fun out of it and makes you a target for others to do the same.
- Don’t retaliate: if someone burns you in a comment or message, don't fight fire with fire. Report that user if they’re breaking the rules – or simply ignore them and go on with your life.
- Don’t post any photos or videos that you wouldn’t want the world to see. It sounds scary, but it’s true: stuff on the web is so easy to find, no matter how deeply buried you think it is. Best way to keep it a secret: don’t post it.
- Never ever EVER give out personal information to someone you don’t know. You're asking for trouble if you give out your cell number, address, AIM, or e-mail address to a stranger.
- HighSchoolPlaybook.com administrators will never send you an email or a message asking for your (or your parents’) credit card or bank account information. If you get a message asking for personal or financial information, tell us right away.
- Keep your parents in the loop about what you’re doing online. It’s not lame – it’s just easier than forcing them to find out the hard way.
- Everybody wants to have tons of ‘friends’ online – but if you start inviting randoms into your group, you lose control over who can message you. Keep it simple, don’t connect to people you don’t know or can’t trust.
- Adults should not be contacting students on HighSchoolPlaybook.com (except for your parents, duh). If you see this happening, notify us right away.
- Keep it PG! It’s OK to flirt with other students you know, but this is definitely not a dating site. And keep it online – never agree to meet a stranger in person..
- High School Playbook is so not the place to launch your modeling career. Lewd, suggestive, or risqué photos will be rejected. If you see something like this, tell us.
- We’ve equipped every photo and video with an “offensive” link – use it if it applies!
- No matter how close you are with someone, never give them your password. Once you turn over control of your profile, you never know what can go wrong.
Parents, Teachers, and Coaches:
- First off, you’re an important part of HighSchoolPlaybook.com. You’re not only your kids’ guardians, but you’re also their chaperones, mentors, chauffeurs, tailors, personal chefs, fundraisers, role models, and biggest fans. We appreciate the commitments and sacrifices you make for high school sports.
- Secondly, talk openly with your kids about the web…without terrifying them, that is. As scary as it may sometimes seem, social networking is a huge part of your kids’ culture and it’s best if you understand it together.
- Third: You know your kids aren’t going to tell you everything, so keep an open line of communication with other adults. Start a group with other parents on HighSchoolPlaybook.com, or put “online safety” on your PTA meeting agenda.
- Fourth: don’t freak out! We appreciate your help in keeping our site safe, but don’t overreact if you see something amiss. Please report it to us and calmly talk to your child about his or her activity online.
- Finally, if you have any suggestions on how to make HighSchoolPlaybook.com a safer place for students, don’t hesitate to let us know. We’ve included below a list of resources and organizations designed to keep kids safe online. Use these to stay on top of online trends and dangers.
Resources
Teenangels.org
Netsmartz.org
SafeTeens.com
WebWiseKids.org
WiredSafety.org
iSafe.org
OnGuardOnline.gov
StaySafe.org |
