Internet Safety on Social Networking Lesson

Lesson Overview

• Privacy and Friend Settings
• Responsible Sharing
• Recognizing Common Social Networking Sites
• Messaging Systems and Chat Features
• Personal Information Protection
• Managing Friends and Blocking Harmful Users
• Safe Gaming on Social Platforms
• Chatting Online: Quick and Easy but Risky
• Understanding Spamming and How to Handle It
• Evaluating Requests and Making Good Decisions
• Becoming a Smart and Safe Digital Citizen

Social networking is a powerful way for people to connect, share, and interact online. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow users to communicate through messages, images, and videos. But while these platforms offer exciting opportunities, they also come with risks-especially for young users. Understanding how to stay safe while using social networking sites is not just important, it's essential.

In this lesson, you will learn the key concepts related to internet safety on social networking platforms. These ideas will help you understand your responsibilities, avoid dangers, and prepare you to confidently answer quiz questions on the topic.

Privacy and Friend Settings

What Happens When You "Friend" Someone?

When you accept a friend request or send one on a social networking site, you allow that person to see information that may be private to others. Your status updates, photos, and location check-ins can all become visible to them. This is because most social networking platforms have privacy settings that limit who can see your content.

Why is this important?

Because your private information-like where you are, what you are doing, and even who you are with-can be used by strangers or people with bad intentions.

Critical Thinking Prompt:

• If you wouldn't tell a stranger at the store where you live, should you post your location on a public profile?
  

Tips to Stay Safe:

• Only friend people you know in real life.
  
• Review your privacy settings at least once a month.
  
• Use the "Friends Only" option for posts, not "Public."
  

Responsible Sharing

What Should You Share Online?

Anything you post on the internet could be seen by people you don't know-even if your account is private. That includes:

• Pictures of yourself or family
  
• Opinions or jokes
  
• Your location or upcoming travel
  

What Should You Avoid?

Avoid posting things that are:

• Inappropriate or offensive
  
• Personal or too revealing
  
• Meant to hurt or make fun of someone
  

Even if you delete a post, someone may have taken a screenshot or shared it already.

Why this matters: Inappropriate or offensive posts can affect your reputation, your friendships, and even your opportunities in school or sports.

Take This Quiz:

Recognizing Common Social Networking Sites

Students should be able to identify the most common social networking sites, such as:

These platforms have different features, but they all include:

• Profile customization
  
• Messaging or chatting
  
• Friends/followers
  
• Sharing content (photos, posts, videos)
  

Why Knowing These Matters:

Recognizing these platforms helps students understand which environments are safe, active, or outdated, and which need stronger privacy awareness.

Messaging Systems and Chat Features

How Does Messaging Work?

A messaging system allows you to send text or media to someone through the platform. These messages can be sent:

• When the person is online (real-time chat)
  
• When the person is offline (they get it later)
  

This means someone could message you at any time.

Safety Guidelines:

• Don't respond to unknown senders.
  
• Report messages that make you uncomfortable.
  
• Tell a trusted adult if someone is bothering you online.
  

Personal Information Protection

What Should You Never Share Online?

The following information should never be posted or messaged online:

Managing Friends and Blocking Harmful Users

Social media gives you the ability to unfriend, block, or report users.

When to Unfriend or Block:

• When someone is being rude, offensive, or threatening.
  
• When you no longer know or trust the person.
  
• When someone sends inappropriate messages or pictures.
  

Why this is empowering: You control your social space. If someone is making you uncomfortable, it's okay to remove them.

Safe Gaming on Social Platforms

Many games are available on social media, but not all are safe.

What to Watch Out For:

• Games that ask for too much personal information.
  
• Games that seem unfamiliar or have no reviews.
  
• Games that contain violent, inappropriate, or mature content.
  

Best Practice: If you don't recognize the game or didn't hear about it from a trusted source (like your teacher or parent), do not install or play it.

Chatting Online: Quick and Easy but Risky

Chatting is a way to communicate instantly with others. This might be:

• In a game
  
• On a social platform (like Facebook Messenger)
  
• On a chat app (like WhatsApp)
  

Risks:

• Strangers pretending to be children
  
• Inappropriate language or topics
  
• Pressures to share personal details
  

Safe Habits:

• Only chat with people you know in real life.
  
• If someone makes you uncomfortable, block and report them.
  
• Never agree to meet someone from a chat without parental permission.

Understanding Spamming and How to Handle It

What is Spamming?

Spamming means sending repeated or unwanted messages that are often:

• Annoying
  
• Full of ads
  
• Potentially dangerous links
  

Why It's Bad:

• Can slow down your device
  
• Might contain harmful files or viruses
  
• Wastes your time and creates confusion
  

Response:

• Never click links in suspicious messages.
  
• Report the spammer to the platform.
  

Evaluating Requests and Making Good Decisions

When you get a friend or game request, always stop and ask:

• Do I know this person or game?
  
• Is there a reason for them to connect with me?
  
• What will they be able to see or do if I accept?
  

If you cannot answer these questions with confidence, it is safer to ignore or decline.

Becoming a Smart and Safe Digital Citizen

You now understand the key concepts of staying safe on social networking platforms. Always remember:

• Protect your personal information.
  
• Think carefully before sharing.
  
• Use privacy settings wisely.
  
• Only connect with people you know and trust.
  

Practicing these habits will help you build a safe and positive digital life. Being a good digital citizen is not only about protecting yourself-it's also about treating others with kindness and respect online.

Take This Quiz: