Ten E-Safety Tips for Twitter
I was asked where Twitter fell with general e-safety guidelines and unlike most social networking services twitter can offer a mass of very public information and although the content can be limited to text and images.
Twitter like any other web activity should follow the same basic e-safety rules but there are a few Twitter specific safety tips to follow :
- Never give out personal information. This includes (but is not exclusive to) your full name, address, school, email address and phone numbers.
- Never give your Twitter password to anyone outside your family even friends!
- Always tell a parent about any threatening or negative tweets you receive!
- Never send an on-line person any photographs or anything else without first checking with a parent.
- Never arrange to meet someone in real life through Twitter.
- Keep your profile information brief.
- Only follow people you know in real life.
- Never respond to users who you don’t know.
- Keep your Twitter feed private and only give people you know permission to view it.
- Consider every tweet. Imagine your parents can read each tweet !
Keeping your Twitter account private is very easy.
Login to Twitter and click on the ‘Settings’ option. At the bottom of the account details page you should see the following tick box. Tick to activate the privacy protection.
Now when people view your Twitter page they won’t see your tweets or @replies instead they will be greeted with a message directing them to request permission to see the page.
This puts you totally in control as to who can see your twitter comments and tweets. Are there are any other tips you would add to this list for younger Twitter users ?
Related Links:
Think U Know
BBC Chat Guide
BBC Stay Safe Online
Kidsmart
Stop Text Bullying
The Anti-bullying Network
Kidscape
There 4 Me
Chat Danger
Childnet InternationalKnow IT All (Childnet International for Parents)
KidsmartCyberbully
The Parents Centre
Internet Watch Foundation
IC Advice for young people and Social Networking
Anti-Bullying Online
Safer Internet
Disclaimer : This post is for deemed as advice only. If you disagree with any of the rules please let us know. Parents should ask to see the relevant twitter pages from time to time to ensure any e-safety rules are being followed.
I have added these rules to my school intranet site. Hope this is ok ? Definitely wise advice.
No problem Kerry, if you have anything to add to the list or would make any changes please let me know.
Finally an opportunity to provide feedback on this great post. My twitter pals have mentioned they believe it is reasonable for elementary/middle school aged students.
One tweep mentioned that no. 7 might defeat the purpose of using Twitter. For example, you may wish to allow them to follow famous personalities (e.g., Barack Obama, Coldplay, news sources, etc.) and/or people who have full profiles (i.e., website links, more detailed info). As an alternative, you can, as a teacher or parent, police their twitter following or followers and make suggestions accordingly. Perhaps to elaborate on the tip with respect to followers – don’t follow anyone who you haven’t followed first (also helps reduce marketers, bots and the like).
I’ve used and continue to use Twitter at the post-secondary level and the problem I had was getting them to follow everyone who they were supposed to follow (clique issues, minimalist students, etc.).
great work and thanks for the post!
