Webupon

The Internet is an awesome, mind blowing thing. E-mail, chat-rooms, cybermails, Yahoo Messenger and ICQ. There’s more than enough to keep you online for hours (which you often are, I bet). Sure it loads of fun, but as with all other things, you should also learn to look out for yourself in the cyber world. While it’s not healthy to be suspicious all the time, it’s wise to keep an eye out for dishonest people on the Internet, just like you do in real life. Most people online are just like you and me–nice, friendly people who wouldn’t even dream of hurting anybody. While they may form the small minority, it still makes sense to take safety precautions when you go out and touch someone via the Internet.

A/S/L?
“A/S/L?” is shorthand for “age/sex/location?”, which is how you’re often asked to introduced yourself to a new cyber-friend. Unfortunately, some people will lie to you when you ask them about theme selves. The great majority of Internet users are honest, but don’t take everything at face value.

This doesn’t mean you have to lie, too, but it’s safer not to list sensitive information about yourself where it’s easily viewed. When typing in your personal information for chat rooms, for example, you may want to put in your real first name and age so you have a better shot at connecting with people who share your interests. However, think twice before you put up your e-mail address, and especially your telephone number on the Personal Information form.

There are some websites that require you to register personal information to be able to access to their services. If you must, make sure the website is trustworthy. Even if it’s boring, read through the agreement contracts to learn their stand on privacy issues–make sure they won’t give away your information to other people without your consent.

F2F
If you’re doing something right, you will make online friends who will want to meet up with you face-to-face. Some mailing lists or chat rooms organize parties for it’s members, and these are usually fun and pretty safe. However, even if you think you know who you’re meeting, it will be a good idea to bring along a trusted friend or chaperon on the first few times you meet with online friends.

If you’ve made a friend who wants to meet up with you alone, make it clear that you would prefer to bring along a chaperon. Your new friend shouldn’t mind–if he or she does, it might be because he or she has something to hide. A real friend wouldn’t mind.
Whatever happens, make sure to tell your family where you’re going, and who you’re meeting up with.

Cyber-Romance
One of the very best thing about the internet is that it’s made the world a much smaller place, letting you meet a lot of new people from all over the world. So it’s not surprising if you meet someone you really, really like online. Think you’ve found your soul mate on the net? Maybe. But do protect yourself from a broken heart–or worse!–and keep a level head. The first thing you have to remember is that an online romance is not the same as a real-life relationship. A person maybe really kind and charming on chat, but there’s no way to know that for sure until you’ve seen him in real life.

What do you do? Well, as with all relationships in real or virtual life–platonic or not–keep an open mind but do proceed with caution. After all, a heart isn’t as easy to fix as a computer.

Reality Check
You know what’s even better than virtual reality? Actual reality, that’s what! I spend as much time on the net as the next person (perhaps even more), but it’s no substitute to actually going out and living life. Don’t pay so much attention to your online life and chat mates that you miss out on your family and friends.
Remember: these are the people who are there for you, in more than one sense of the world. Have fun online, but have fun in real life, too!