Staying Safe Online

Guiding Questions

• What is the Internet?
• Who uses the Internet?
• What are some of the ways you can stay safe online?
• What are the benefits of being mindful online?

The Internet

Have you ever heard of the Internet? Even if you don’t know it, you probably use it everyday, whether you’re facetiming someone across the world, googling the answer to a question you don’t know, or watching a YouTube video. According to khanacademy.org, “The Internet is a global network of computing devices communicating with each other in some way.” Anyone anywhere with access to it can log on and do a multitude of things because of the Internet. As of 2025, about 6 billion people across the globe use the Internet (that’s around ¾ of the entire world!) Because so many people exist online, it’s important to stay safe. In this blog, you will learn a few things you can do to use the Internet safely and responsibly.

What can YOU do?

When it comes to the Internet, there’s a lot of malicious software, malware sites, hacking tools, bad apps, and other online threats. But there are multiple ways you can prevent yourself from being a victim. Being safe online just starts with a few good habits:

• Have strong passwords: Do you have accounts online? Like maybe for a mobile game or a google account? If so, you probably had to create passwords for them. And passwords are a big part of staying safe online because they keep your data protected and secure from others. So when making passwords, always remember to keep this mnemonic device in mind: LUCKY! “L” stands for Long–make sure all your passwords are between 8 and 12 characters. “U” stands for Uppercase–use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters. “C” stands for Characters-incorporate symbols like ! @ # $ % throughout. “K” stands for Keep it secret-never, ever tell anyone else your password. Remember, it’s your account, not theirs. And finally, “Y” stands for Your own-try to avoid using things that are important to you like your name or your birthday. And if you can, try not to use the same passwords for every site, because if one is hacked, then your others aren’t necessarily safe. It can be tedious, but these rules are put in place so it’s harder for hackers to guess your passwords.

• Protect your digital footprint and keep your data low-profile: Do you know what your digital footprint is? Think of it like a trail of data you leave behind after using the Internet. This includes things like what websites you visited, when you visited them, and what you shared–like pictures of yourself on social media. All of these things make it easier for hackers and big companies to create a profile on you. Viewing someone’s digital footprint, especially when it’s not carefully taken care of, can let you know a lot about them, even if they don’t even realize they’ve shared certain things online. So when posting or sharing online, make sure you are aware of your digital footprint, because everyday choices you make online can also affect your future.

• Be careful what you click and download: There are a lot of links out there, and you probably encounter them when being on game sites, watching videos, and maybe even reading an article. Always be mindful of where those links take you and think before you act. And remember to never click on ads as well because they may contain a virus or redirect you to a bad site. One bad click can quickly cause problems.

• Limit cookies: This concept is something lots of people don’t know, but the faster you know about it, the more you can avoid it. Ever search something up and then go to social media and discover it’s the first thing that pops up on your for-you page? Well that’s not a coincidence. It’s likely because of your digital footprint or cookies on that website. Think of cookies as tiny sticky notes that computers leave on your device. There are two categories of cookies: essential and non-essential. Essential cookies contain important information like session IDs (which is how a website remembers who you are so you can log in with the same ID next time) or what items are in your shopping cart, for instance (if you were on a shopping website). Some cookies, like advertising or targeting cookies, collect information about what you do on a website. Companies use this information to show ads you might like, which is similar to how your digital footprint tracks what you do online (this isn’t always necessarily the case, but it may explain why products or things you were just browsing may show up as a relevant ad on your device a few moments later). So the main thing to do in this scenario is remember that whenever you visit a website, in the pop-up that shows up asking about cookies, try to click “Deny All” or customize the cookies so that you turn off all the cookies except the essential ones.
• Don’t talk to strangers: Much like how your parents probably tell you not to talk to strangers in the real world, try to avoid talking to strangers online. One thing about the Internet is that you never really know who you may be talking to because you aren’t actively meeting them in-person, you’re conversing through a screen. Many people try to take advantage of that, so limit conversation with people you don’t know online as much as possible. That being said, you can still talk with your friends and family online, as long as you’ve fully verified they are who they claim they are.

Review

• What is the Internet and who uses it?
• What is the acronym for having good passwords?
• What is your digital footprint?
• What are some things you can remember to do before sharing or posting online?
• What will you do if a website prompts you to click a link or download something?
• What are some examples of essential and non-essential cookies?
• Who will you talk to online?