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Fletcher's IM and Chat Tips

Chat Rooms and Instant messaging services can be a good laugh if you remember to stay SMART and remember a few important things.

IM's or Instant Messaging is part of a chat room where you chat to one person alone where no-one else can see or interrupt. Remember it is important to stay SMART when using any part of the internet!

You might think you've met a really cool new friend or even a potential girlfriend, (Bleurgh!), but how do you know unless you've met them in real life? They may seem trustworthy or you've been chatting to them for aaages, they may have even sent you a picture?SO WHAT? Who's to say the picture is recent or even of them? Remember, EVERYBODY you meet on the internet is a stranger, even if they seem like a friend.

Some people who use the internet are called Paedophiles. They often use younger people's chat rooms for something called Grooming. Their aim is to fool you into thinking they are somebody they're not so they can gain your trust before suggesting to meet up. They will take a lot of interest in you and may even try to be sympathetic and understanding if you are having personal problems. Once you have arranged to meet them they will try to make you do things that you aren't comfortable with and you could also be in a lot of danger.

To reduce the risks of this happening to you it is a good idea to NEVER reveal any personal information about you or anybody you know over the internet. Even if it's one of your friends from school, there's always a chance a stranger could be watching your every move using clever computer software such as spy-ware. Another way to protect yourself is to never accept any files through IM, unless you're positive it's from a trusted source. If it contains a virus, it can cause a lot of harm to your computer. (And they don't come cheap!)

Protect yourself by using a nickname rather than your real name and avoid private chats or IM's unless you know the person in real life. If you have a profile, make sure you don't include any personal info there either!

If you do make friends with somebody you've met online, NEVER keep it a secret, even if they ask you to, and NEVER, EVER meet up with them unless you have a responsible adult's permission. Arranging to meet someone you have met online is extremely dangerous, however long you've known them, but if you must go tell as many people as possible and take your mobile with you. Make sure you don't go alone and arrange to meet in a public place. This way, if they do turn out to be a weirdo, they'll have little opportunity to harm you.

Another good idea is to save all your conversations, as not only can you keep them as a cool kind of diary, (or Blog), for yourself, but it will also help if your 'friend' eventually becomes aggressive or starts to make you feel uncomfortable. If this happens and you can't save the conversation, you can always highlight all the text with your mouse, copy and paste it into a word document and then save it. You could also simply hit the print screen button! (Apple, shift & 3, if you use a Mac.) By keeping a record, it will make it much easier to report problem if you can show it.

Most importantly, TELL an adult or carer, they will not be angry with you and will be able to help!

If the chat room or instant messaging service that you use does not have any of the following features, we recommend you swap to one that does. They are generally free and easy to download but please be careful before agreeing to their terms and conditions and make sure you only download stuff from a website you trust.

Do you have a clear option to block or ignore another user?

Is there an easy way to report bad stuff to the messenger's provider?

Are you given an option to choose not to receive IM's from people you don't know?

Is it easy to save a conversation that you want to report? This is very important.

If you can make a profile, does it explain that it can be seen by anybody using the Internet?

Remember. Have fun, but always stay SMART and safe!