Archive Website of the UK government

Protect your own safety

The ‘Click Clever Click Safe’ code is a list of three simple things to remember when you're online:

• Zip it
• Block it
• Flag it
  

• Staying safe online

Zip it

When you’re online, always keep your personal stuff private and think about what you say and do.

Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Online friends are still strangers even if you have been talking to them for a long time.

Don’t share personal information online. This includes:

• your full name
• photos
• addresses
• school information
• telephone numbers
• places you like to spend time

Make sure you have set your privacy settings to restrict access to personal information.

When you use chat rooms or instant messenger, use a nickname instead of your real name.

To stop people accessing your online accounts, always keep your passwords secret and change them regularly.

Block it

Think about blocking people who send you nasty messages and don’t open unknown links and attachments.

Always delete emails from people you don’t know, and don’t open attachments from people you don’t know. They might be nasty or contain a virus that can stop your computer working.

If someone is mean or sends nasty messages online, block them.

Flag it

If you see anything that upsets you online or if someone asks to meet you, flag it up with someone you trust.

If you are worried or unhappy about anything you see online, tell a parent or an adult you trust and they can help you. If you want to talk to someone else, you can call Childline on 0800 1111

If a friend you have made online asks to meet you in the offline world, talk to your parents or a trusted adult about it. You should never meet up with someone you have met online without an adult going with you because it is dangerous.

If someone you know is being nasty to someone online, speak to a parent or trusted adult about it.

• Visit the UKCCIS one stop shop for internet safety Opens new window

• ChildLine Opens new window

Useful contacts

• Talk to FRANK

• b-eat

• NHS - Live Well Opens new window

• Brook Opens new window

• NHS Smoking Helpline Opens new window