internet safety for students essay

Essay on Internet Safety

Students are often asked to write an essay on Internet Safety in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Internet Safety

Understanding internet safety.

Internet safety means being secure online. When we use the internet, we should be careful, just like when crossing the road. It’s important to keep personal information private, like your full name, address, and school.

Creating Strong Passwords

A strong password is like a secure lock. It keeps your online information safe. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t use easy words like your pet’s name because others might guess it.

Avoiding Strangers Online

On the internet, not everyone is friendly. Some people pretend to be someone else. Never meet up with someone you met online without a trusted adult.

Safe Sharing

Think before you post photos or share your location. Ask yourself if it’s something you’d want everyone to see. Once it’s online, it’s hard to take it back.

Asking for Help

250 words essay on internet safety, what is internet safety.

Internet safety is about being secure online. When we go online, we can talk to friends, play games, and learn new things. But just like we look both ways before crossing the street, we need to be careful on the internet too.

Keeping Personal Information Private

Imagine your personal information is like a secret treasure. You wouldn’t want strangers to find it. Online, don’t share your full name, address, phone number, or school name with people you don’t know. It’s like giving them a map to your treasure.

Strong Passwords

A strong password is like a locked door to your online house. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols to make it hard for others to guess. Don’t use easy passwords like “1234” or “password,” and never share your passwords with anyone except your parents.

Being Kind Online

The internet is a place where you can meet people from all over the world. Always be kind and respectful, just like you would be in person. If someone is mean to you, tell an adult you trust.

Staying Away from Strangers

If a stranger tries to talk to you online, don’t answer them. Tell a parent or teacher right away. Just like in the real world, not everyone online is a friend.

500 Words Essay on Internet Safety

Internet safety is about being protected online. When we use the internet, we share information about ourselves, sometimes without knowing it. It’s like leaving the door to your house open; if you’re not careful, someone you don’t want inside might come in. So, it’s important to keep that door closed and locked by being smart about how we act on the internet.

One key part of staying safe online is to keep your personal information private. This means not telling strangers your full name, where you live, your phone number, or where you go to school. It’s like not telling a person you just met all your secrets. Only share personal details with people and websites you trust, and even then, only when it’s necessary.

Safe Passwords

A good way to protect your information is by using safe passwords. Think of a password like a key to your online room. You wouldn’t give your house key to just anyone, right? Make sure your password is hard to guess. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and don’t use easy things like your name or birthday. And remember, don’t share your password with friends; it’s meant to be a secret.

Be Careful What You Click

When you’re online, you’ll see lots of things to click on, like ads or links in emails. But not all of them are safe. Some can be tricks to take your information or put bad software on your computer. This is like picking up a piece of candy from the ground – it’s not a good idea. If something looks strange or too good to be true, it’s best not to click on it.

Online Strangers

Just like in the real world, you might meet people you don’t know on the internet. Be cautious when talking to strangers online. They might not be who they say they are. It’s like talking to someone with a mask on; you can’t be sure of who’s behind it. Never agree to meet someone in person that you’ve only talked to online without a trusted adult.

Using Social Media Wisely

Social media is a place to connect with friends and have fun. But, be smart about what you post. Don’t put up pictures or information that you wouldn’t want everyone to see. Once something is on the internet, it can be there forever, even if you delete it. It’s like writing in wet cement; once it dries, it’s really hard to get rid of.

Ask for Help

If something online makes you feel uncomfortable or if you’re not sure if something is safe, ask a trusted adult for help. This could be a parent, teacher, or an older sibling. It’s like when you’re not sure about crossing the street; you ask for someone’s hand.

Remember, being safe on the internet is a lot like being safe in everyday life. By keeping your information to yourself, using strong passwords, being careful about what you click, being cautious with strangers, using social media wisely, and asking for help, you can enjoy all the good things the internet has to offer without worry. Stay alert and stay safe!

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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Essay About Internet Safety

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Introduction, illegal access, adult content, monetary fraud and fake identity, online harassment, banking cyberattacks.

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Internet Safety  - Introduction to Internet Safety

Internet safety  -, introduction to internet safety, internet safety introduction to internet safety.

Internet Safety: Introduction to Internet Safety

Lesson 1: introduction to internet safety, introduction to internet safety.

There's almost no limit to what you can do online. The Internet makes it possible to access information quickly, communicate around the world, and much more. Unfortunately, the Internet is also home to certain risks , such as malware , spam , and phishing . If you want to stay safe online, you'll need to understand these risks and learn how to avoid them.

Adopting a safer mindset

Computers can often give us a false sense of security . After all, no one can physically harm you through a computer screen. But to stay safe online, you'll want to take a more cautious approach. Here's one way to think about it: Treat the Internet as you would a shopping mall .

Most people don't consider a mall to be an especially dangerous place. You can go there to shop and meet up with friends. But there are also small things you may do to stay safe, even if you don't think about them very often. For example, you probably wouldn't leave your car unlocked or give your credit card number to a stranger.

Apply this same mindset whenever you're online. You shouldn't be afraid to use the Internet, but remember that it comes with many of the same risks you'd face in the real world. Throughout this tutorial, we'll show you how to prepare for these risks so you can be online without putting yourself in danger.

So what are you waiting for? Let's get started!

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Digital Citizenship

What Is Internet Safety and Why Is It Important to Teach?

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June 12th, 2019 | 12 min. read

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Internet safety is the practice of following actionable guidelines, understanding modern technology, and protecting your digital devices so you can defend against malicious parts of the online world.

It’s one of the main parts of a strong   digital citizenship program   in any school.

That’s because the internet provides near-instant satisfaction when looking up answers to questions, instructions on how to accomplish a task, and more.

But it’s also   packed   with potential dangers. Malware, phishing, scams, drive-by downloads, misrepresentation, and old-fashioned lies hide in every possible corner online, just waiting for an opportunity to strike.

So how can you prepare children and teens to successfully navigate this minefield of information?

It’s not easy — but the first step to   teaching i nternet safety is understanding it yourself!

What Does Internet Safety Entail?

Internet safety requires you to have a firm comprehension of the internet, what’s on it, how it’s used, and how it operates.

It also emphasizes understanding the lesser-known areas of the internet, like code, webpage interactions, and secure connections.

In general, you can break down internet safety into two categories —   behavior   and   knowledge .

If you’ve never had to teach internet safety before,   we recommend starting with seven  behavior  ideas that work in middle school and high school :

• Verifying someone’s identity
• Verifying a link is safe
• Identifying an online scam
• Protecting privacy
• Creating and using passwords
• Identifying cyberbullying
• Becoming a good digital citizen

Internet safety is truly an expansive space, and it requires a   knowledge   component as well — the kind of knowledge that helps you   use safe technology .

That includes:

• Understanding code
• Using ad blockers
• Identifying secure connections
• Using virtual personal networks (VPNs)
• Understanding your data and its value
• Knowing when your data is being collected
• Understanding how your data is used to advertise

Because these two lists are pretty long, we’ll dive into each one separately.

Let’s start with making safe choices!

Making Safe Choices

The most important part of internet safety is learning how to make safe choices.

That requires a lot of background knowledge, but it’s all actionable information that your students can use any time.

Using the points below, you can teach your students how to stay safe online by making the smartest and best choices available.

1. Verifying someone’s identity

The internet makes it a snap for anyone to falsify their identity.

All it takes is an   email   address, made-up name, and social media profile. With that done, any person on Earth can impersonate someone else.

Students can verify identities by searching someone’s name in search engines and multiple social networks — especially   LinkedIn .

Why is LinkedIn special?

Because it’s one of the hardest social profiles to fake!

LinkedIn essentially requires you to upload a full-fledged resume to join the network. Any LinkedIn profile with minimal information is immediately suspicious.

Facebook profiles with no friends, Twitter profiles with no followers, and Instagram profiles with   only   selfies are also suspicious.

Essentially, if someone seems   very into themselves   but doesn’t have the   online friends   to show for it, that person may be an imposter! 

2. Verifying a link is safe

In addition to verifying the identity of a stranger, students also need to know how to “read” a URL or link.

You can do this a couple of different ways.

First, students should understand the letters that start a URL — HTTP and HTTPS.

The easy to way to think of these is that HTTP is   unsecure   and HTTPS is   secure .

That means the URL goes to a trusted and well-maintained website, as opposed to a throwaway website that’s being used maliciously.

Second, students should also know about hovering. Hovering is when you place your mouse cursor over a link (without clicking it) to see the link embedded in the text.

99% of the time, these will be the same URLs. But 1% of the time, you may see that a link shows a   different   URL when hovering with your mouse cursor.

Don’t click these links! They may be deceptive, especially if the text of a link looks like you’ll go to one website but the embedded URL will send you somewhere else!

3. Identifying an online scam

Online scams often take the form of unsolicited emails, instant messages, or text messages.

Basically, they’re messages that come from unknown sources that tell the recipient to do something, like click a link.

As tempting or promising as the offer may be,   students need to know not to click the link !

Simply opening the link could subject the student’s computer to malware, viruses, ransomware, or some other villainous software.

4. Protecting privacy

Privacy is another key area of understanding where students make crucial choices.

Today, every social network asks for a name, email address, phone number, and more!

So where can you draw the line?

In the event your students choose to create social media profiles, it’s crucial that they’re careful about   publicly posting   their personal information.

They should hide their phone numbers. Their email addresses shouldn’t be searchable. In some networks, students may even be able to remove themselves from search results entirely, protecting them from random friend requests and online invasions of privacy.

As a rule of thumb, students should always keep their addresses and contact information secret, even from social networks that ask for them.

5. Creating and using passwords

Passwords are used in every account-based service online, from social networks to banks.

As a result, they’re crucial in maintaining the privacy and integrity of any student’s information.

This opens the door for you to teach your students about best practices when creating passwords.

Strong passwords tend to be:

• 10+ characters long
• Include letters, numbers, and other characters
• Unrelated to personal information
• Easy to remember
• Hard to guess

Creating good, unique passwords is a challenge for anyone — especially if they’re not tech-savvy. 

If you’d like your students to practice passwords before making them, you can use the   LastPass password tester   in your class.

6. Identifying cyberbullying

Because social networking and messaging is easier than ever, it’s also easier to harass people as well.

This unfortunate side-effect of the internet is called   cyberbullying , and it’s been a hot-button topic in schools for years now.

Cyberbullying is essentially insulting or harassing someone via the internet. While it’s mostly discussed in the context of children, teens, and young adults, it’s shockingly prevalent across all age ranges.

The major takeaway for students is   identification . Insults, jokes at someone’s expense, and repeated harassment are all callsigns of cyberbullying.

The effects can be devastating on the victims. Social media has a tendency to permeate our lives, and that’s amplified for teens and pre-teens who are highly involved in their social circles.

To prevent feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and worse outcomes, it’s crucial for students to know cyberbullying when they see it so they can do their part to stop the harassment.

7. Becoming a good digital citizen

Good   digital citizenship   means students know how to make safe choices when using the internet.

It also entails a general knowledge of technology, how the internet works, and warning signs that something may have gone wrong. 

In that respect, making smart choices on the internet is just the first step on the road for your students as they become responsible digital citizens. 

The next key area of internet safety is using — and understanding — safe technology.

Using Safe Technology

Using safe technology helps protect a student’s devices.

Understanding   safe technology helps protect   a student’s life . 

While this requires more information and a thorough   digital citizenship curriculum , it also gives your students the essential knowledge they need to protect themselves from digital pitfalls for the rest of their lives.

You can start by talking about code.

1. Understanding code

Code   is the back-end, written text that developers use to create webpages and webpage elements.

With it, developers can tell a webpage to show a certain image at a certain point. They can denote where a video should go and whether it should play automatically.

The options are nearly limitless!

Most of the code on the internet is in a language called   Hypertext Markup Language , or HTML. For the most part, HTML is a safe coding language that has very little opportunity to harm someone’s computer or steal someone’s information.

Other languages include   Java ,   CSS ,   Python ,   Ruby , and more. These languages all have their strengths and weaknesses, and some of them can be used maliciously.

Thankfully, these languages don’t show up   too   often except for in special online applications.

The best way for students to learn   about   code is to   learn  how  to code . Once students use the coding languages themselves, they’ll have a sharper idea of how those languages can be used online. 

2. Using ad blockers

Ads are everywhere these days. Unfortunately, very few ad providers actually check their advertisers to ensure they’re providing clean, safe ads on webpages.

This is where a lot of websites run into trouble. It’s possible for them to   unknowingly   serve malware or virus-infected ads that prompt what’s called a   drive-by download .

That means someone just needs to open a webpage and their browser will start downloading viruses, spyware, malware, or ransomware in the background — and nobody knows until it’s too late!

The best thing to do is to show students how to use ad blocker extensions in common web browsers, like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

Yes, ads play a vital role in helping companies keep the lights on.

But so few companies perform quality assurance checks on their ads for malicious code, and cybercriminals will always strive to stay one step ahead of the people who may catch them.

As a result, the best solution is for your students to use ad blockers!

3. Identifying secure connections

Secure connections are essential to ensuring someone’s personal information goes directly to a website and isn’t intercepted, decrypted, or misused by malicious third parties.

Thankfully, secure connections are easy to identify. Just look for the   HTTPS   at the beginning of a website’s URL.

The   S   indicates that the website uses something called   secure socket layers , which is essentially an extra layer of security that protects information as it goes from a student’s computer to the website’s servers.

You can also teach students about   virtual personal networks , or VPNs. These are encrypted micro-networks that add   even more   security to information that’s transmitted from someone’s device to another area.

With HTTPS websites and an always-on VPN equipped to a device, students can protect themselves from almost all of the internet’s dangers when it comes to transmitting data.

4. Using virtual personal networks (VPNs)

Speaking of VPNs, it’s important to understand how they work.

A VPN establishes a secure connection between someone’s device and a proxy location. In addition, the VPN creates a digital “shell” that protects that connection.

So if you imagine a standard internet connection as a copper wire, a VPN internet connection would be like that copper wire covered in a thick layer of rubber for protection and waterproofing.

In addition, VPNs prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from tracking a lot of your browsing activity online. This is important because it’s legal for ISPs to sell anyone’s browsing information to marketing firms to create targeted advertising.

VPNs stop that dead in its tracks. It’s just a safer way to use the internet! 

5. Understanding your data and its value

So why should you and your students care that ISPs, social networks, and third-party operators have access to your data?

Because in today’s fast-paced, information-based world,   personal data is a valuable commodity .

Packages of data are sold among companies just like any other product. The most recent example of this is the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal that revealed enormous breaches of personal privacy and dozens of security concerns.

Essentially, every student in your classroom is valuable to an advertiser. Because of that, their information has value for the social networks, ISPs, and other companies that collect it.

The less a student tells these websites about themselves, the less likely they’ll be to have their information packaged and sold to the highest bidder.

6. Knowing when your data is being collected

How do you know when your or your students’ data is being collected?

Because of a European law called the   General Data Protection Regulation   (GDPR), any website that has traffic or customers in Europe must disclose when someone is being tracked.

The method of this tracking is often through something called a “cookie,” or a unique identifying code that makes one person stand out against the millions who may visit a website.

So while American or Asian websites   don’t   have to disclose their tracking information by law, they still do it to accommodate their European usership.

As a result, you’ll often see websites with popups that say they’re currently tracking you.

7. Understanding how your data is used to advertise

Finally, it’s essential that students understand how their data is used to advertise to them.

As we established before, third-party agencies will collect and sell anyone’s information for a price. Then, the people who   buy   that information can use it to deliver targeted advertisements to individuals through different means.

Have you ever talked to your friend about a brand or product only to open your Facebook account and see an ad for it right away?

Have you ever texted someone about a book you wanted to read and then saw it as an ad at the top of Amazon?

This isn’t an accident. Advertisers have never had more access to information about you, your students, or anyone else in the world.

As a result, they have a   very   sharp idea about what they can offer people.

If you or your students see ads on social networks or shopping websites, remember that they’re not there by accident!

Those ads are placed through a complex series of identification and delivery systems. Even if they show something that you want, it’s smartest   not   to click on them since you also don’t know where the ad may lead! 

Teach Internet Safety as Part of a Digital Citizenship Curriculum

Learning and practicing internet safety is critical for your students to stay safe in a technologically-driven world. But without the right curriculum resources, your students are at risk of not learning essential information that will help them become good digital citizens.

When you teach the internet safety concepts in this article, you’ll be well on your way to ensuring your students are prepared to work in the digital world.

But how can you be sure you meet your standards for internet safety and other critical digital citizenship topics? Consider adopting a comprehensive curriculum system such as iCEV. 

The iCEV curriculum includes material to help meet your standards for internet safety, digital citizenship, and more.

Visit the curriculum page   to learn more about topics you can teach with iCEV to decide if it’s right for your classroom.

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23 Great Lesson Plans for Internet Safety

Topics:   Digital Citizenship Privacy & Security Relationships & Communication Social & Emotional Learning

Help kids practice smart internet habits and stay safe online.

Educators' approach to internet safety in the classroom has changed as technology and our use of it continues to evolve. In the past, digital citizenship lessons on internet safety focused more on dos and don'ts, like do create safe passwords and don't talk to strangers online. While secure passwords are certainly important for technology users of all ages, and stranger danger is nothing to take lightly, most internet safety challenges are much more nuanced.

The best internet safety lessons recognize the complexity of these topics and help students build the critical-thinking skills and habits of mind to navigate the dilemmas they encounter. Below are the best internet safety lesson plans for students in grades K–12. See the full Common Sense K–12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum for lesson plans on additional digital citizenship topics.

Kindergarten Internet Safety Lesson Plans

How do you go places safely online? The power of the internet allows students to experience and visit places they might not be able to see in person. But, just like when traveling in the real world, it's important to be safe when traveling online. On this virtual field trip, kids can practice staying safe on online adventures.

First Grade Internet Safety Lesson Plans

How can we be safe, responsible, and respectful online? From our head down to our toes, and our feet up to our nose, the Digital Citizens teach students how to be safe, responsible, and respectful online.  

How do you stay safe when visiting a website or an app? Staying safe online is a lot like staying safe in the real world. Using a fun traffic light activity, students learn how to identify "just right" content, giving them the green light to learn, play, and explore the internet safely.

Second Grade Internet Safety Lesson Plans

What kinds of information should I keep to myself when I use the internet? Staying safe online is a lot like staying safe in the real world. By helping a Digital Citizen sign up for a new app, students learn about the kinds of information they should keep to themselves when they use the internet -- just as they would with a stranger in person.

How are we all part of an online community? We are all connected on the internet! By learning the Rings of Responsibility, students explore how the internet connects us to people in our community and throughout the world. Help your students think critically about the different ways they connect with others, both in person and online.

Third Grade Internet Safety Lesson Plans

How can a strong password help protect your privacy? Stronger, more secure online passwords are a good idea for everyone. But how can we help kids create better passwords and actually remember them? Use the tips in this lesson to help kids make passwords that are both secure and memorable.  

What makes a strong online community? Belonging to various communities is important for kids' development. But some online communities can be healthier than others. Show your students how they can strengthen both online and in-person communities by creating norms that everyone pledges to uphold.

Fourth Grade Internet Safety Lesson Plans

What information about you is OK to share online? It's in our students' nature to share and connect with others. But sharing online comes with some risks. How can we help kids build strong, positive, and safe relationships online? Help your students learn the difference between what's OK to share and what's best left private.

How can I be positive and have fun while playing online games, and help others do the same? Social interaction is part of what makes online gaming so popular and engaging for kids. Of course, online communication can come with some risks. Show your students how to keep their gaming experiences fun, healthy, and positive.

Fifth Grade Internet Safety Lesson Plans

What is clickbait, and how can you avoid it? The internet is full of catchy headlines and outrageous images, all to make us curious and get our attention. But kids don't usually realize: What you click on isn't always what you get. Show your students the best ways to avoid clickbait online.

How do you keep online friendships safe? Kids make friends everywhere they go -- including online. But are all these friendships the same? How can kids start online friendships and learn ways to stay safe? Help your students understand both the benefits and the risks of online-only friendships.

Sixth Grade Internet Safety Lesson Plans

How can you protect yourself from phishing? Internet scams are part of being online today, but many kids might not be aware of them. How do we help our students avoid being tricked into clicking malicious links or giving out private information? Use this lesson to help kids avoid online identity theft and phishing schemes.

How do you chat safely with people you meet online? Games, social media, and other online spaces give kids opportunities to meet and chat with others outside the confines of their real-life communities. But how well do kids actually know the people they're meeting and interacting with? Help students consider whom they're talking to and the types of information they're sharing online.

Seventh Grade Internet Safety Lesson Plans

How do companies collect and use data about you? Every time we go online, we're giving away information about ourselves. But just how much data are companies collecting from us? Hint: It's probably a lot more than we realize. Show your students these three tips on how to limit the data that companies collect.

How does social media affect our relationships? For most middle schoolers, being on social media can mean connecting with friends, sharing pictures, and keeping up to date. But it can also mean big-time distractions, social pressures, and more. Help students navigate the different feelings they may already be experiencing on social media.

Eighth Grade Internet Safety Lesson Plans

How can you protect your privacy when you're online? Kids share a lot of information whenever they go online -- sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. But do they understand that online privacy isn't just what they say and post? Help your students learn about their digital footprints and the steps they can take to shape what others find and see about them.

What are the risks and potential consequences of sexting? It's natural for teens to be curious about their emerging sexuality. But most middle schoolers aren't prepared for the risks of exploring this in the digital age. Help students think critically about self-disclosure in relationships and practice how they'd respond to a situation where sexting -- or a request for sexting -- might happen.

Ninth Grade Internet Safety Lessons

What are the benefits and drawbacks of online tracking? Many of us are aware that we're being tracked when we go online. It's one of the ways our favorite websites and apps know how to recommend content just for us. But how much information are companies actually collecting? And what are they doing with it? Digging into the details can help us make smart decisions about our online privacy and how to protect it.

How can you tell when an online relationship is risky? Getting to know someone online, without nonverbal cues or being able to see them, can be risky -- from simple misunderstandings to manipulation. Help students navigate and avoid these situations before they go too far.

Tenth Grade Internet Safety Lessons

What privacy risks do new technologies present, and how do we decide if they're worth it? New tech, like location services and smart devices, helps make our lives easier and opens opportunities that didn't exist before. But these innovations also come with a cost -- especially to our privacy. Help students consider the benefits and drawbacks of these new technologies -- and decide whether they're ultimately worth it.

How can I make sure my relationships are positive and healthy? "It's complicated" can describe many of our relationships with others, both romantic and otherwise. Add digital devices and social media to the mix, and things get complicated even further. Help students take the first step toward building healthy and rewarding friendships and romantic relationships, both online and off.

Eleventh Grade Internet Safety Lessons

At what age should people be allowed to use social media? Kids have to be at least 13 to sign up for most social media platforms. But we know that many tweens work around the restriction. In doing so they can connect with peers and have fun, but they're also vulnerable to a number of risks -- mainly overuse and challenges to their social-emotional health. Reflecting on age-appropriate content and behaviors can help students think through social media's effects on all of us, regardless of our age.

Twelfth Grade Internet Safety Lessons

Should the government have access to all your social media and cellphone data? Often, the more information we have, the better decisions we're able to make. The power of data can benefit both individuals and governments. But who can be trusted with the responsibility of having all this data? Can governments collect and use it fairly and without violating our privacy? Help students think through this question and become thoughtful influencers of data policy and practice.

Erin’s work focused on supporting students, teachers, and families for over a decade. As content director for family and community engagement at Common Sense, she provided parents and caregivers with practical tips and strategies for managing media and tech at home, and supports teachers in strengthening partnerships with families. Prior to her work with Common Sense, Erin taught public high school students and adult English learners in Kansas City. Her time as a National Writing Project teacher consultant nurtured her passion for student digital creation and media literacy. She has bachelor's degrees in English and secondary education and a master's degree in instructional design and technology. Erin loves to knit, read, hike, and bake. But who has time for hobbies with two young kids? In her free time these days, you'll find her hanging out at playgrounds, the zoo, and the beach with her family.

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How to Teach Internet Safety to Younger Elementary Students

A lesson plan for helping students as young as kindergarten begin to understand how to be safe online.

A few years ago, I wrote a post called “ Teaching Digital Citizenship in the Elementary Classroom .” Now I want to share a sample lesson for teaching internet safety to students as young as kindergarten. Yes, you read correctly—kindergarten.

With children spending time online at younger and younger ages, it’s vital that we explicitly teach young children how to protect themselves online. Most young children get the “ stranger danger ” talk at school, so they know about how to handle strangers in their neighborhood and in face-to-face situations.

There are three considerations when addressing internet safety with these students. First, the transfer of knowledge about how to handle strangers in real life to those in virtual environments is not automatic. It needs to be taught. Second, while most stranger danger programs teach that strangers are scary and mean and want to hurt or abduct children, this contradicts the way collaboration occurs between strangers online. Not all strangers are dangerous. Lastly, in real life students can walk or run away from a potential threat. In an online environment, the danger is inside a student’s home and hard to escape if they don’t have the skills necessary for handling tough situations.

Protecting Private Information Online

This is a lesson I’ve done with my kindergarten and first-grade students to introduce the idea that strangers exist on the internet and to discuss how we should interact with them. You’ll need a computer and internet access, and it’s helpful to have a projector or interactive whiteboard so these questions can be projected on the screen during the discussion. Ask students these questions:

• “What is a stranger?” After soliciting various answers, ensure that students understand that a stranger is someone we don’t know. Remind students that some strangers may want to hurt them, but not all strangers are bad people. You can mention examples like a stranger who opens a door for you or picks up something you dropped and returns it to you.
• “What kinds of things should we not tell a stranger?” Solicit a variety of answers, ensuring that things like “address,” “phone number,” “full name” are mentioned.
• “What kinds of things are OK to tell a stranger?” This question tends to be harder for students to answer. You may get answers like “Hi” or “How are you?” If students are stumped, have them vote with their thumbs about various things like “your favorite color” or “your favorite ice cream flavor.” Explain that certain kinds of information won’t put them in harm’s way.
• “Are there strangers online?” Some students may have played games online before and may offer answers related to those experiences. I’ve had students as young as kindergarten say that they think there are strangers online because you don’t always know who you are talking to. After a brief discussion of different ways we can connect with strangers online (which can include game systems), show them a video about how to handle strangers online.

Have students watch the Internet Safety video at BrainPOP Jr. Afterward, ask them to share what they learned from the movie. After soliciting some answers, review vocabulary from the video using the Word Play activity on the site. Next, have them complete the Write About It activity.

There are a few ways to check and make sure your students have understood the lesson:

• Print out one of the quizzes ( easy or hard , depending on your students) to assess what they’ve learned.
• Have your students act out scenarios that show their understanding of the main concepts from the video or to practice handling strangers online.
• Have them create an internet safety poster using a drawing program like TuxPaint .

More Resources

• The National Criminal Justice Reference Service
• Common Sense Media
• Wired Safety
• Disney’s Parent Guide to Internet Safety