I want to use the Internet. I know that there are certain rules about what I should do online. I agree to follow these rules and my parents agree to help me follow these rules:

1. I will not give my name, address, telephone number, school, or my parents’ names, addresses, or telephone numbers, or anything else that would help anyone find me offline (like the name of my sports team) to anyone I meet on the computer.

2. I understand that some people online pretend to be someone else. Sometimes they pretend to be kids, when they’re really grown-ups. I will tell my parents about people I meet online. I will also tell my parents before I answer any e-mails or instant messages I get from, or send e-mail or instant messages to, new people I meet online.

3. I will not buy or order anything online or give out any credit card information without asking my parents.

4. I will not fill out any form online that asks me for any information about myself or my family without asking my parents first. This includes forms for contests or registering at a site. I’ll also check to see if the sites have a privacy policy and if they promise to keep my private information private. If they don’t promise to keep my private information private, I won’t give them any private information. (I will talk to my parents about what “private information” is.)

5. I will not get into arguments or fights online. If someone tries to start an argument or fight with me, I won’t answer him or her and will tell my parents.

6. If I see something I do not like or that makes me uncomfortable or that I know my parents don’t want me to see, I will click on the “Back” button or log off.

7. If I see people doing things or saying things to other kids online I know they’re not supposed to do or say, I’ll tell my parents.

8. I won’t keep online secrets from my parents.

9. If someone sends me any pictures, links to sites I know I shouldn’t be going to, or any e-mail or instant messaging using bad language, I will tell my parents.

10. If someone asks me to do something I am not supposed to do, I will tell my parents.

11. I will not call anyone I met online unless my parents say it’s OK. (Even then I will block caller ID on my phone.)

12. I will never meet in person anyone I met online, unless my parents say it’s OK and they are with me.

13. I will never send anything to anyone I met online, unless my parents say it’s OK.

14. If anyone I met online sends me anything, I will tell my parents.

15. I will not use something I found online and pretend it’s mine.

16. I won’t say bad things about people online, and I will practice good Netiquette.

17. I won’t use bad language online or threaten anyone, even if I’m only kidding.

18. I know that my parents want to make sure I’m safe online, and I will listen to them when they ask me not to do something.

19. I will help teach my parents more about computers and the Internet.

20. I will practice safe computing, and check for viruses whenever I borrow a disk from someone or download something or open any attachment, even from someone I know.

21. I will tell my parents when something bad happens online, because they promise not to overreact if something bad happens online. And I will remember that it’s not my fault if others do bad things online!

_________________________________________________________________
I promise to follow these rules.
(signed by child/teen)

_________________________________________________________________
I promise to help my child follow these rules and not to overreact
if my child tells me about bad things that happen in cyberspace.
(Signed by parent)

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