Online Games and Video Game Consoles

How can I make it safer?

Important discussions to have…

  • Reinforce to students the public nature of the Internet.
  • Ensure students understand that they can talk to you about anything on the Internet that makes them feel uncomfortable without fear of losing computer privileges.
  • Discuss with students the concept of dignity and self-respect and how it can be preserved or destroyed by messages sent online and offline.
  • Discuss with students the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.
  • Explain to students that they should never meet in person with someone they first met online without a parent or guardian present.
  • Explain to students that it's illegal to threaten someone online or offline. Explain to students that they should never comply with threats. If someone threatens them online, they need to tell a safe adult.
  • Make sure students know to stop any conversation that makes them feel uncomfortable and tell a safe adult.
  • Discuss with students high-risk behaviour both online and offline and create 'what if' scenarios together to help them recognize dangerous situations and practice responses.
  • Encourage open communication and be aware of students' sensitivity to social judgment. They may be hesitant to share personal experiences.
  • Explain to students how experimenting in a public place like the Internet can have irreversible, embarrassing consequences.
  • Warn students about individuals they chat with online who start talking about sex, puberty, ask 'weird' questions or request sexually explicit pictures. Tell students to trust their instincts and block anyone who makes them feel uncomfortable.
  • Tell students not to share their passwords with anyone, and that their passwords should be a combination of numbers and letters (both upper- and lower-case). Explain that pop-up ads and malicious sites may appear legitimate, but that email and messenger providers will never ask for their username and password.
  • Teach students that it is illegal for people to manufacture, possess or distribute naked or sexually explicit pictures of children under 18 years of age.
  • Suggest to students that they review Respect Yourself, a website designed to teach youth about the risks they face when sending pictures or videos by email, Instant Messaging (IM) or by posting them online. This website guides teens through the risks and provides them with safety strategies to help keep them safe.