If you’re like most teens, you probably spend a lot of time online. The Internet is a great place to do homework, talk to your friends and download your favorite music.

But with all of that good stuff, there is also bad stuff. Some people on the Internet try to take advantage of teens and kids. They pretend to be someone they aren’t so that they can hurt you.

That’s why we’ve put together some safety tips for you. Check ‘em out!

Some people on the Internet are only there to hurt you.

Some people pretend to be your age or a friendly adult so that you will trust them. You can never be certain that people you meet on the Internet are really who they say they are.

It’s dangerous to get together with someone you met online. 

We recommend that you never do it. Like we said before, they may not be who they say they are. However, if your parents agree to the meeting, they should go with you, and the meeting should be in a public place.

Speak up!

If someone harasses you online, asks to get together with you, says or sends you anything inappropriate or does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, tell your parents right away. Make a screen print or copy of the message and have your parents send it to your Internet service provider (ISP). You can also report the incident at www.cybertipline.com.

Your parents really do care, even if you think they don’t.

Talk to your parents about the websites and online activities that interest you. Show them the websites you use. Talk to them about where you can and cannot go online. Set up some basic rules you can follow to keep you safe.

Keep your personal information to yourself!

When you are online, never give anyone personal information like your name, address, phone number, the name or location of your school or your parents’ names or where they work. Don’t put personal information or your picture in your online profile or anywhere else online. Use a screen name that is different from your real name and your e-mail address.

Do you know what identity theft is?

If someone online is asking you for personal information, like your name and address, they could be trying to steal your identity. When someone steals your identity, they pretend to be you. They can create online profiles using your name and information, or they can even open a bank account or credit card in your name. You probably don't think much about it right now, but identity theft could affect your future college plans or make it harder to get a job.

Not all websites are meant for you.

The Internet has places for adults only. If you find yourself in one of those places, immediately tell your parents how you got there and how you feel about what you saw.

Don't respond to harassing messages or bulletins.

Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are sexually suggestive, obscene, threatening or that make you feel uncomfortable for any reason. Tell your parents right away.

Be considerate in your posts.

If you post something you may think is a joke, it may not be to someone else. Be nice in what you say about others. Even "jokes" can hurt and they are on the Internet forever. Before you post, ask yourself how you would feel if someone made the same post about you.

Never open e-mails from people you don’t know.

Delete them right away. They could contain bad things like viruses, spy ware or sexually explicit material.

Stay out of chat rooms.

There are people in chat rooms who are not who they say they are. These people often create a fake profile hoping a teen will trust them. Someone who appears to be a 14-year-old girl from New York who wants to be friends may really be a 42-year-old man from California who wants something else. He may even try to meet you in person and hurt you or try to kidnap you.

Never post pictures or send them to someone you meet online.

Once you send the picture, you can never get it back. It can go anywhere in the world in just a few hours. People can change it, and it can never be completely erased.

Talk to people you know and love, not your online friends.

If you are having problems at home, with your friends or at school, talk to your parents, a counselor, a teacher or another adult you trust. The Internet or an online friend may not be the best place to go for help. An online “friend” may only be pretending to care about you so he can take advantage of you when you are feeling down.

No nude photos.

You could go to jail and be required to register as a sex offender for taking pictures of a person under age 18 engaged in sexual conduct or sending such pictures to other people. Your body belongs only to you. If you let someone take your picture without clothes, you cannot change your mind about it later. If you send a nude picture of yourself, you cannot change your mind about it later and get it back. The nude picture will be on the Internet for your entire life. Everyone from your school could see the picture. Respecting and protecting yourself now keeps your future safe. Click here to read additional tips on how to prevent sexting.