For High School Students
The Internet is a great place for
schoolwork, learning, and socializing. However, it is important that you
stay on top of your information, know what you are giving out, and be
conscious of what you are posting on the Internet.
Social media is a great way to interact with others and make connections. If
used correctly, it can be a great asset to your future, and a fun way to
keep in touch with friends and family. If used incorrectly, it can hurt your
reputation and image. Listed below are some tips to help you stay on the
right path.
You should:
-
Check all of your privacy settings.
Make sure you are fully protected. -
Interact with respected influential
people whom you admire on Twitter and Facebook. -
Think about admission to college;
know that these schools have the potential to see anything you have
posted. -
Only post information that is useful
to others and does not harm anyone. -
Realize that everyone can see what
you are writing. It cannot be removed from the Internet. -
Be aware that future employers will
check your social media sites. -
Use social media to showcase
yourself in a positive way, so that people respect you.
You should not:
-
Post inappropriate pictures or
statements that could offend others. -
Give out personal information such
as your home address or telephone numbers. -
Interact with people that you do not
know. -
Use profanity or inappropriate
language; remember your pages are a reflection of you. -
Interact with people who use social
media for the wrong reasons.
Besides social media, the Internet can
also open up other new and exciting opportunities. Online banking and
shopping are great ways to manage money and purchase items without ever
leaving your home. It is always important to be careful with your money!
Here are ways to keep your funds and
identity safe online:
You should:
-
Use unique usernames and passwords
for all of your login information. -
Use websites that are secured, you
can check this by looking for the “s” at the end of the “http” (https)
in the URL address or a Padlock icon in the address bar. -
Make sure your computer is properly
secured with firewalls and anti-virus software. -
Know your merchant, use trusted
websites. Look for the Better Business Bureau seal of approval if you
are unsure of the sites safety.
You should not:
-
Give out any bank information such
as your debit or credit card numbers. -
Use the same password for every
website. -
Shop on unknown sites. -
Ignore warning signs of a virus or
spyware. -
Use open and unsecured WiFi networks
when going on the Internet.
The use of cell phones and specifically
texting has become one of the main ways that people communicate. It is
important to realize that texting can be a hazard if a few simple safety
precautions are not taken.
Texting while driving is a national epidemic, quickly becoming one of the country’s top killers. Drivers assume they can handle texting while driving and remain safe, but the numbers don’t lie.
Texting While Driving Causes:
1. 1,600,000 accidents per year – National Safety Council
2. 330,000 injuries per year – Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Study
3. 11 teen deaths EVERY DAY – Ins. Institute for Hwy Safety Fatality Facts
4. Nearly 25% of ALL car accidents
Texting While Driving Is:
1. About 6 times more likely to cause an accident than driving intoxicated
2. The same as driving after 4 beers – National Hwy Transportation Safety
Admin.
3. The number one driving distraction reported by teen drivers
Texting While Driving:
1. Makes you 23X more likely to crash – National Hwy Transportation Safety
Admin.
2. Is the same as driving blind for 5 seconds at a time – VA. Tech
Transportation Institute
3. Takes place by 800,000 drivers at any given time across the country
4. Slows your brake reaction speed by 18% – HumanFactors & Ergonomics
Society
5. Leads to a 400% increase with eyes off the road
These are some of the ways that you can improve your daily cyber activities.
It is important to remember that the Internet is a public place; others can
potentially see anything that you are doing or saying. Anything that you say
or do will be somewhere on the Internet forever. Think twice before you
contribute something online. You are always entitled to your opinion, and in
most places, your opinion is encouraged - just make sure it is relevant and
will not affect anybody negatively.
These tips were compiled by Stephen
Karaolis, Hofstra Public Relations Intern
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