“People are constantly using the internet,” said RCMS counselor Mrs. Brenda Humphrey. “It’s become part our daily lives.”

Children and even adults these days are constantly posting stuff online without even thinking about it.  

As we all know, we are always eager to download games and all that fun stuff. But these actions could be bad for you on the internet. Students are constantly downloading stuff without being  aware about what it is.

“Be careful about downloads,” said Mrs. Humphrey. “These downloads could cause viruses.” These viruses could then slow down the speed of your computer.

 When you are online, it is important to not share any personal information. Sharing personal information could create a unsafe environment. Additionally, be cautious about who you are talking to online. After all, they could be a hacker in disguise.

Additionally, sharing personal information about yourself could lead to an unsafe environment online.

“It is very important to save a copy and tell a trusted adult if you are uncomfortable about what you see online,” said Mrs. Humphrey.

This type of action is called cyberbullying, or bullying over the internet.

Social media is a big part of our lives. We can get hooked onto it for a while. Some of us can’t even live without it. But sometimes, social media is a bad thing. Think carefully before posting pictures or videos. Once it is online, anyone can access it. Remember, once something is posted, you can’t take it back.

There are a lot of sites out there that we can access. Some are good, and some are bad. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. When we click on a site, they could possibly be random ads popping up, and trying to persuade to buy something. If you don’t know if a site is right or not, go to a teacher so they could research it up, or you could go to your school’s SRO. Remember, not all information online is necessarily true.

“Talk to a tech specialist, or go to a trusted adult, and let them research it up,” said Mrs. Humphrey. “This way, it’s more safe.”

Last but not least, make sure you keep your phone to yourself. Don’t let your friends use it, unless you are with them.  Make sure you don’t leave your phone where someone else might pick it up. Don’t make it easy for other people to get a look at your personal information. Furthermore, make sure you create complex passwords that only you can remember. Including numbers may make your password stronger.  

“The internet is like a whole other world,” Mrs. Humphrey.