LITMIR.BIZ

      that’s personal

      No matter what digital stuff you do—play games, research homework,

      chat with friends, browse websites—the adults in your life will want to

      look over your shoulder and talk about safety. Why? you may wonder.

      You’re not scaling ice-covered mountains. You’re just hanging out at

      home, clicking and tapping. What harm could it do?

      Lots, if you’re not careful.

      Public vs. private

      Public means anyone can see.

      Websites and pages you find with

      a browser and without a password

      are public, including social media

      sites where people comment, play

      games, post photos, and share

      thoughts. Private means you con-

      trol who can see what you do—or

      at least that’s the idea. The truth is,

      nothing digital is ever completely

      private. E-mails and texts can be copied or forwarded to other people.

      Even posts in a social media account that you think are private can

      sometimes be tagged, shared, and copied.

      Zipped lips and

      fingertips

      Staying safe means using sites

      approved for your age. It also

      means thinking twice before you

      type or tap—no matter what age

      you are! To update an old-world

      phrase, safety is about keeping

      your digital lips zipped.

      Sharing personal information can

      let a stranger know where you

      live, what school you go to, or

      the field where you play soccer. It

      can give bullies an opportunity to

      single you out. It can even allow

      someone to pretend to be you.