Instant Messaging (IM)

What are the risks?

Instant Messaging (IM) programs present a risk of downloading a virus to your computer through the exchange of images and/or files.
An adolescent may be directed to website links outside of the IM program such as false login pages, sexually explicit material and/or violent content.

An adolescent may engage in private conversations and share private information, unaware of the lasting consequences . Once private information or material is sent online, control over what happens with the information or material is lost, and possible exposure felt by the adolescent may have devastating effects.
An adolescent may send nude images to peers without understanding that the images can be forwarded or permanently posted online.
An adolescent may accept friend/buddy requests from people s/he doesn't know in person.

Individuals looking to victimize adolescents can quickly turn conversations sexual on IM programs, asking personal questions about puberty and development.
Individuals can hijack IM accounts by acquiring an adolescent’s username/password through fraudulent login pages and coerce adolescents to send nude or partially-clothed images of themselves.
Adolescents may encounter "chatbots" when using IM programs. Chatbots are programs that are setup to engage and respond to individuals through these technologies to appear as though they are human. Some are created for entertainment or educational purposes, however, there are a number of bots created for malicious purposes. Chatbots can be used to direct individuals to particular websites with adult or harmful material. They may also be used to capture and track personal information from individuals responding to them.