• Never give out personal information (such as name, age, address, phone number, school, town, password, schedule) about yourself or anyone else. With your phone number, anyone can easily get your address and a map to your house. Never agree to meet in person with anyone you have spoken to online.
• Some “kids” you meet in chat rooms may not really be kids; they may be adults with bad intentions. Remember, people may not be who they say they are.
• Never tell anyone online where you will be or what you will be doing.
• Never respond to or send e-mail to new people you meet online. Remember it is okay to not answer every email or instant message.
• Never send a picture over the Internet or via regular mail to anyone you’ve met on the Internet.
• Never buy or order products online or give out any credit card information online.
• Never respond to any belligerent or suggestive contact or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. End such an experience by logging off and telling your parents as soon as possible.
• Always tell someone you know about anything you saw, intentionally or unintentionally, that is upsetting.
• Use gender-neutral screen names.
(http://www.oprah.com/presents/2005/predator/safety/safety_online.html)
If you’re struggling with porn:
• Avoid compromising situations.
• Be accountable to someone. Have someone you trust hold you to your commitment. Arrange to have them ask tough questions about what’s going on in your life and what you’ve been doing. You don’t have to make an announcement and tell everyone.
• Monitor your viewing. How much time are you spending on the computer? What behaviors are associated with your porn viewing? Drugs? Boredom? Stress? Loneliness? Certain friends? Habits you may need to break? What are you watching? There are web sites and Internet accountability tools. Some of these tools have faith language on them, but in reality, any two people can help keep each other accountable. (For example: X3 watch; Net Accountability; Covenant Eyes; Bsafeonline; Cybersitter.) Remember everyone is targeted. Protect yourself before it becomes an issue.