How to Keep Yourself Safe Online

Many of us live in an increasingly online environment every day, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being online connects us with new people, friends, and relatives near and far. We have the ability to learn ideas from around the world.  As a youth, it is important to consider the online content you are looking at and putting out. What influences are you putting in your brain? Who are you sharing who you are with? Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are online.

1. Think twice before you post or share (especially if you are angry or emotional): a good way of thinking about your online persona is considering that anyone, anywhere can see what you put out on the web. Think about someone showing what you share to an elder or a younger family member. If you would be embarrassed or regret what you are about to post, you might pause and come back to it at a different time. Despite privacy settings, you should always consider that your posts could permanently follow you throughout the rest of your life. It’s bananas to think about, but true. Screenshots can live forever. Consider real-life interactions can be more important than online ones. 
2. Respect yourself and other’s: Some tribes believe that Respect is one of the most important cultural values. That includes respect for others and respect for yourself. Being online makes it easier to act in a mean way and bully other people. Cyberbullying is bullying with digital technologies¹ and is extremely common among youth, often leading to harmful consequences. Cyberbullying is behavior that attempts to scare, anger, or shame people who are targeted. Some examples include: spreading lies, posting embarrassing photos, sending hurtful messages, catfishing (or impersonating someone else) and sending mean messages on their behalf. It is important to realize that cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint meaning there is a record or evidence to prove what someone has done.
   1. If you know someone who is being bullied or you are being bullied there are resources to help like the Child Helpline Network
   2. You also have the right to report hurtful behavior or block someone that is not treating you well online.
   3. Talk to someone you trust and get help. You don’t have to face a bad situation alone. 
3. Don’t feel like you have to accept any or all new friend requests: Be mindful of the new people you meet online. There are weirdos out there and you are beautiful. Make sure you look through their profile and try to get a sense of who they are before you interact with them. Do you have friends in common? Do you live in the same town or community? Remember that sometimes people pretend to be someone they are not and it can be difficult to know who they really are online. Once you are friends with someone on social media they may have greater access to everything you’ve ever shared. Imagine it this way…who would you allow to come into your grandma’s house, find her photo album with personal photos of you and your family, and flip through all the photos? 
4. Remember you can change your privacy settings: you can control which information if shared online and who you share this with. Be mindful of your personal information – sharing your address and phone number is never a good idea. Some things not to share are obvious, like your bank information or passwords. Also, consider if someone could tell where you are or where you regularly spend time by monitoring your online activity. Don’t post “Here I am, walking alone from basketball practice again, 7 pm every night.” Ok, that’s a silly example, but you get the idea.
5. Don’t keep your fears to yourself: if something doesn’t feel right online, trust your gut. Our Indigenous intuition and instincts are part of our resilience. Talk to someone you trust and get advice on what to do. It is never too late to ask for help. 

Citations:

1. Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it. Accessed October 20, 2021. https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying
2. How to stay safe online. Voices of Youth. Accessed October 20, 2021. https://www.voicesofyouth.org/act/how-stay-safe-online

QUIZ

You have a friend request from a person you’ve never met, but they are friends with 3 of your friends. What should you do?

• Delete, block, and tell everyone a creep is on the loose.
• Ask your friends if they know this person in real life, check out their profile to see if who they say they are matches what you observe. -CORRECT
• Are they hot? Then yes, accept and DM immediately before your cousin gets her claws into them.

What can you do if you are being cyberbullied? 

• Block them, unfriend them, and delete mean comments unless it’s serious. If a threat was made or sexual abuse was involved, keep evidence and ask a trusted adult for help or contact the Child Helpline Network. CORRECT
• Round up all of your cousins and tell them to round up all of their cousins, cousin battle!
• Bully them back with your best comebacks, roast battle! 
• Throw an old pot roast at their house, roast battle! 

You see photos of your friends on social media, having a great time without you. Your feelings are hurt, so while all the best insults are fresh in your mind, you start flaming everyone and revealing secrets. Was this the right way to handle things?

• Yes, you have all the dirt on those sneaky double-crossing fake friends; this will show them. 
• No, now you’re the cyberbully. Take some time to cool down. Consider talking to them in person. Maybe you’ve just grown apart. Do one kind thing for someone new everyday until you have a new friend. CORRECT