Internet Travel Tips for Kids

Copyright © 2001. This document cannot be reproduced in part or in whole without the written permission of the author and Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation. Contact Library Services, Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation

Don’t forget to read this Disclaimer

Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation is not responsible for the kind of information or the accuracy or quality of information that can be accessed and obtained through the Internet. Internet sites are not monitored, and the information may not be authoritative or reliable. Anyone using this information does so at their own risk.

The Internet is a worldwide network of computer networks. If your computer is connected to the Internet, you can send and receive messages through electronic mail , search World Wide Web sites for information on all kinds of topics, and more.

Two of the main things you use on the Internet are:

World Wide Web (or "the Web")
Web sites contain information as words, pictures, video, and sound . Web sites are linked via hypertext. These links appear as pictures, or words that have been highlighted in differently coloured text. Clicking with your mouse on a link takes you to the new web site. There are millions of web sites on all kinds of topics.

Electronic Mail (or "E-mail")
Messages that are sent via the Internet. You must have an e-mail address in order to send and receive mail.

Nobody owns the Internet, or is in charge of checking to see if what you find on a web site or in an e-mail, is right or wrong, or nasty or hurtful. Anyone in the world – companies, governments, or just regular people – can put material on the Internet. Some of the stuff is true, some is not. The computers you use for the Internet at Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation have software called Net Nanny^TM . Net Nanny^TM keeps out almost all of the bad stuff, but sometimes it gets through. And remember, people you meet online may not be who they seem. Because you can’t see or hear the people, it would be easy for a person to pretend to be someone else. Net Nanny^TM can't tell if someone is lying. You have to be careful.

The hospital has to keep an eye on how people use the Internet on its computers. It does this by monitoring Internet use, like what Web sites are visited. If you go to sites with obscene or nasty information, or send hateful or rude messages, you may not be allowed to use the Internet.

Be Street Smart!

Here are some things you should do whenever you go on the computer to take a trip on the World Wide Web, or use e-mail.

• Keep the computer area clean. Don’t eat or drink near the computer.
• Turn the computer on and off properly. If you don't know how, ask an adult who takes care of you to show you the right way.
• Keep your password a SECRET! Don’t write it down where it can be seen by others. Don’t share your password with anyone, even friends.
• Tell your parents, or an adult who takes care of you, EVERY time you go online. Do this even if you are only reading e-mail. And please, if you are sharing a computer, don't stay on-line so long that other people can't use the computer.
• Don’t believe everything you read! This is very important to remember. Anyone can set up a web page or send an e-mail – that doesn’t mean the information they provide is true. It is always a good idea to check with another resource like an encyclopedia, another web site, or your parents.
• NEVER tell people your home address, phone number, your school, or your age, or friends’ names, online, without your parent’s permission. NEVER send a picture of yourself without your parents’ permission.
• You may end up at a Web site that has bad stuff on it, or get an e-mail message that is hurtful or frightening. If this happens, tell your parents or another adult (like a nurse at the hospital).
• Do not go into "private" chat rooms with strangers (places on the Internet where you "chat" live with just one person).

Netiquette

Rules to follow when using e-mail

TYPING A SENTENCE IN CAPITAL LETTERS = shouting, and is seen as rude. But remember: some people have to type in capitals because of the adaptive equipment that they need to use to access their computer. In general, only use capitals if you have a very strong opinion.

When you get an e-mail message, try to answer it as soon as possible. Since the message only took seconds to get to you, why should it take weeks before you reply? Don't forget to sign your messages.

Swearing, name calling, and general rudeness are absolute no-no’s on the Internet. If you are rude, people may stop e-mailing you, and may not answer your e-mails.

People can’t see your face when you are typing a message. To show how you are feeling in an on-line message, try using some of these "emoticons", which are made up of letters and punctuation symbols. Just tilt your head to the left to see the "smileys"

Thanks to Ability Online for the "Smileys".

Last Updated: 2005-03-21