Betty teaches you the importance of keeping your OFFLINE identity separate from your ONLINE identity

Betty

Betty
Cyber Defender & Clubhouse Supervisor

Betty learned the hard way about sharing too much information online when rumors she had spread through her online blog upset some of her friends. Since then she has made it her goal to educate everyone about what information is inappropriate or unsafe to share online to prevent others from getting hurt.

As a Cyber Defender, Betty focuses on the most important information you should never share online, your offline identity.

Favorite Quote:

A stumble may prevent a fall
- English Proverb

Favorite Food:

Tea and crumpets

Interests:

Chatting, macrame, collecting teacups

November 19 2009

Case Studies: David Rice and Naomi Broady

At the risk of sounding like a skipping CD (do people even use CDs anymore?), I need to say this again: Be careful what you put on the Internet! Recently, two young tennis stars from Britain learned this the hard way. Apparently, their tennis league read that these two players were up to no good off the tennis court. And how did they find this out, you ask? The tennis players bragged about the bad things they did on a social networking site!

Because the tennis stars weren’t careful about what they put on the internet, the tennis league suspended them. Now they can’t play! My fellow cadets, learn from their silly but costly mistake!

posted by Betty
topics: Case Studies

October 6 2009

Safe Online Communication: Online Photo Albums

Hello Cadets! The other day I was walking to the cafeteria when I noticed a bunch of students huddled around a laptop, laughing. Curious, I wandered over to see what was so funny. Imagine my face when I found out they were laughing at me!

Apparently, Captain Wits had uploaded an…unfortunate picture from last year’s holiday party. You see, someone had spilled an entire pitcher of eggnog on the dance floor and, well, I didn’t see it until it was too late. For an older gentleman, Captian Wits has great reaction time with a camera! The picture shows me just after slipping in the eggnog – my legs are up in the air and my face has this look of terror as I realize what’s happening. How embarrassing! How undignified! How permanent! Captain Wits and I are no longer talking.

Let this be a lesson to you, Cadets. Before you upload any pictures of your friends and family, ask their permission. Also, remember, everything you put on the Internet is permanent! Sure, I could ask Captain Wits to take the picture down, but now the Cadets have all downloaded a copy for themselves! Some weirdo stranger could even have a copy. Creepy.

posted by Betty
topics: Safe Online Communication

September 28 2009

Safe Online Communication: Microblogging

Well, I reckon the first thing we ought to do is define microblogging. Microblogging is just like regular blogging, except, well, shorter. Generally speaking, microblog posts are no longer than 200 characters (not words, mind you) long – that’s short enough to be updated by cell phone texts! Microblogging can be a great way to keep up to date with friends and family you don’t speak to often, but be warned! Just because the messages are shorter doesn’t mean it’s safe to post personal information. Remember Cadets, everything you put on the Internet can be traced back to you, so be careful! Staying safe with microblogging is the same as staying safe on any other social network – make sure you know what information your posting and who is reading that information. If someone you don’t know is reading your posts and you don’t know them, you may want to put them on a block list.

Remember, Cadets, microblogging is like any other use of the Internet – it’s more fun when you’re safe about it!

posted by Betty
topics: Safe Online Communication

September 15 2009

Netiquette: Flame Wars

I do declare, some of the comments I’ve seen on message boards lately are just awful! To think, someone just wants to post about something they care about and these…these trolls come along and start spouting all these horrendous thoughts! Remember, Cadets, this is how flame wars start! For those of you who don’t know, a flame war is basically an online argument that has eroded from a discussion of different views to all-out personal attacks. You know, the sort of things the Dis Guys just absolutely love to see. Well, as Cadets, it’s your job to make the Internet a better place and stop these flame wars before they start!

So how do you do it? Simple! For starters, be nice. Don’t be offensive if you disagree with someone. If someone writes that they disagree with you, don’t think of it as an insult; think of it as a chance to learn! Of course, if they are being insulting, report it to the moderator or web host. Also, remember that the reader might not understand that what you wrote is a joke. For example, if you’re trying to be goofy and I think you’re being serious, it could start an argument. A good way to stop this is to use emoticons so that the reader can better understand the mood that you’re writing in. A simple smiley can prevent a lot of hurt feelings!

posted by Betty
topics: Netiquette

August 11 2009

Safe Online Communication: Webcams

Webcams are amazing tools that, when used carefully, can really add to your overall enjoyment of the Internet. For example, if one of your friends moves away you can still see them and talk to them whenever you’d like thanks to video chat programs like Skype. Of course, like all things on the Internet, you can never be too careful when using a webcam.

One of the big dangers of webcam use is that it basically opens a window into your life that you can never shut. If your webcam is plugged into your computer, some weirdo stranger could hack into it and use it to watch you without you knowing! How creepy is that? Remember, if you aren’t using your webcam, unplug it.

Another way the webcam could be dangerous is when you’re talking to people you don’t know in real life. Think about it, the person looking at you might not be as nice as they seem! You shouldn’t talk to strangers on the street, and you shouldn’t talk to strangers on the Internet. That’s common sense that’ll keep you safe!

Before using a webcam, make sure you tell your parents or a trusted adult to make sure it’s ok. If you are talking to someone online, whether or not you’re using a webcam, and they say or do something that makes you feel uncomfortable, sign off immediately and tell a trusted adult. Webcams are a lot of fun as long as you’re safe while using them!

posted by Betty
topics: Safe Online Communication

August 2 2009

Case Studies: Vicious Attacks on YouTube

Recently, videos of severe beatings have made their way onto YouTube. In one video, four teenage girls and two teenage boys are seen brutally attacking one girl so badly that they knocked her out. The attackers were arrested and, thanks in part to the video, were charged with three separate felonies! Unfortunately, this isn’t the only example of this sort of thing. In June of this year, two women and three teenagers were arrested for the beating of a 15-year-old girl. The video came to the attention of a school officer who then reported it to the police. The victim of the beating suffered a broken eye socket in addition to her other injuries.

What is wrong with these people? It’s bad enough that people want to hurt one another, but they feel the need to tape it, too? My fellow cadets, if you see someone being hurt, put down the camera and pick up a phone! Call the police! Or, if you see someone you know getting hurt in an Internet video, make sure to bookmark the site and tell a trusted adult right away! Remember, the only time people get away with doing bad things is when good people do nothing to stop them.

posted by Betty
topics: Case Studies

July 23 2009

Netiquette: Respecting the Terms of Use

“Terms of Use” are a list of guidelines given by a service provider, such as a social networking site. These guidelines are meant to inform you of what behaviors will get you kicked off the site. Using the example of a social networking site, let’s say that the Terms of Use state that the provider does not tolerate the use of racial slurs. If you use racial slurs while you are on that site, they will ban your account.

The Terms of Use can also be used to protect the service provider from lawsuits. An example this would be if someone used a social networking site to stalk someone. Hopefully, the service provider’s Terms of Use made it clear that harassing or stalking a user would not be tolerated. If this was stated, then the weirdo stalker broke the Terms of Use for the service provider and the site would not be held responsible.

It is very important that you understand what you are agreeing to before you click the “I Agree” button for a Web site. If you are going to play the game, so to speak, make sure you know the rules, cadets!

posted by Betty
topics: Netiquette