Internet Safety Guide For Parents: Usernames and E-mail

Internet Safety Guide For Parents:

Usernames and E-mail

Introduction Internet Predators

Internet Basics Social Networking

Usernames & E-mail On-line Safety Tips

IMing & Chat Rooms Helpful Resources

Cyberbullying

Does it matter what name my teen chooses to go on-line?

Yes! You and your teen should NEVER use a real name as your on-line name (also known as a “screen name” or “username”). You may already know this but it is a common mistake that teens and adults make. By using your real name, another person can immediately know who you are and, with a little bit of work, they can probably find out even more about you. This is especially true with IMing and chat rooms where your teen can get comfortable with someone and suddenly realize the person knows their name, age, where they live, and where they go to school.

How can I help my teen choose a safe on-line name?

Teens and pre-teens naturally want their usernames to be cool, and describe who they are. What they may not realize is that some names can be unfairly judged when talking on-line to people they don't know well. For example, a name such as "hotbabe13" will likely be viewed as an open invitation for unwanted e-mails from people who are just responding to the suggestive name, not to who your teen really is. If your teen is struggling to think of a safe on-line name, you can help her brainstorm with things like the name of a candy bar, color, or something else that's not personal. If the name is already taken, you can try adding a few numbers, for example, Green123 or Sunshine321. She shouldn’t, however, use her house number, birth date, or any other personal number in her on-line name. The software you use to set up your teen’s IM, e-mail, or chat room account can assist you with this process.

What is E-mail?

"E-Mail", is short for "electronic mail". You can type e-mail messages on your computer, in a program like Outlook or Gmail, and then send them via the Internet to one or more computers, to be read by other people. When e-mail is en route from one computer to another, it is stored on a special computer called a “server” until the recipient reads the e-mail message.

E-mail has become a very popular way of communicating among adults as well as teens, but harmful materials can sometimes be sent from one computer to another. It’s important to caution your teen not to open up e-mails or e-mail attachments (pictures, music, movies, etc.) from addresses they don't recognize. These may contain “computer viruses” – programs that can harm your computer, or they may automatically open unwanted photos or links to unwanted web sites.