TOP TIPS FOR MOBILE PHONE SAFETY
- Remember if you are being bullied it isn’t your fault and there is nothing so awful that you can’t speak to someone about it. Talk to a trusted adult at home or at school.
- Don’t reply to any nasty messages you receive.
- Don’t reply to a text from someone you don’t know.
- Keep the messages you have been sent so you can show them to a trusted adult and make a note of the time and date of the messages or calls you receive.
- Don’t answer calls from withheld numbers or numbers you don’t recognise, let it go to voicemail.
- Block numbers from people who are sending you nasty messages.
- If you are bullied repeatedly, you can change your number.
- Don’t give your mobile number to someone you don’t know.
- Don’t send pictures to someone you don’t know.
- If the problem is serious you can report it to the police, cyber mentors, or childline.
- Use a passcode on your phone. This can help protect your data. Nobody should be able to access your passcode so don’t set it to something other people may know eg. birthday.
- Keep your phone with you. Store your phone in a safe pocket so that it is hidden from sight. Be careful when you take it out in public places and don’t let other people use it unless you know and trust them.
- Check what data your apps can use. Lots of apps will ask permission to use your data when you install them. They might want to view things like your location, contacts, photos and even messages. Be careful what you agree to and check what permissions your apps have in the ‘settings’ menu on your phone.
- Add an ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact to your phone. If you lose your phone or something happens, it can be hard for someone to contact you. Add the phone number of someone you trust, like your parent or carer to your lock screen or on the back of your phone with a sticker.
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk
https://cybermentors.org.uk
http://www.childline.org.uk/talk/Pages/Talk.aspx
