ADVICES FOR TEENAGERS

New technologies and the Internet offer unlimited possibilities, but they also hide many risks. Sharing personal information can lead to unpleasant consequences in your private life. Uploading photos from a funny party today may have consequences years later, when a potential employer reviews your application for a certain position. The Internet is a virtual place and not everyone is what he or she is claiming to be.

•  Be careful when sharing personal information online

Publishing personal data or sharing personal information online might be dangerous and could lead to negative consequences in your real life. Under no circumstances you should give personal information to strangers (name, home address, phone number, personal data).

•  Not everyone on Internet is your friend

Do not meet people whom you met on the Internet. That could be dangerous and could seriously threaten your safety. Be aware that on Internet there are people who present themselves for somebody else – for example adults pretend they are children.

•  Mind that your username is your "identity card"

Be careful when choosing your username as a provocative one would increase the risk of harassment by ill-disposed people or receiving e-mail with inappropriate content.

•  It is almost impossible to retrieve a content that was already uploaded online

Whatever was uploaded online stays there permanently. Even deleted later, there is a good chance that the content has already been copied, redirected or forwarded. Besides, there are web archives, which store all contents, even those that were already deleted from a certain website.

•  The background of the photo says a lot

Think carefully what can be seen in the scene of the photo – posters or photographs on walls, t-shirt signs, street names, car license plates. That information could reveal the exact location or place.

•  You are what you are wearing

Think what your appearance on the photos tells other people. Will you feel comfortable to show your image to your boss or potential employer, family members or relatives of your future partner?

•  Respect other people's privacy

Treat other people’s privacy with respect. If taking photographs in a public place, make sure you are allowed to photograph passers-by, and never take photographs of children without their parents' permission.

•  Be a good Internet-citizen

You have the right to express an opinion or even joke public figures or state policy, but never use threatening or obscene language. You can be prosecuted in case of libel, insult or discredit to another person.

•  Follow the rules

Most sites have user rules which must be followed. Most of the sites definitely prohibit displaying of images with sexual or violent context, as well as texts or images referring to harassment, slander, pornography, or images which can provoke hatred and aversion or violate other peoples’ rights.

•  Respect copyrights

All serious sites prohibit use of materials without prior consent from the author – for example a television of film company. Be careful about the music you upload.

•  Select secure and decent Internet sites for friendship and entertainment. Some sites can present unpleasant surprises.

•  You can report signals for online problems to the hot line at www.safenet.bg.

You can talk to a consultant on Safer Internet use by children on the hotline 124 123. For Yettel clients the call costs BGN 0.14, regardless of the length of the call. The hotline is open for consultations every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and the rest of the day you can send an email to helpline@online.bg.