The Salt Lake City, Utah Police Department has joined at least a dozen other police departments across the U.S. in their effort to make more “friends” on the popular website MySpace. 

          “It’s my hope that parents with children who have MySpace pages will recognize the value in choosing the police as a top friend.  Our imposing logo is a warning to online predators that a MySpace user has friends in the department,” said Chris Burbank, Salt Lake City Police Chief.  The department also offered up some tips to share with your kids when surfing online.  I thought I’d share.

 Rules for Safe Surfing

Chat Rooms

Chat rooms may seem like a great way to meet new people, but remember:

                You never know who is there.

                People you meet online are not always who they seem to be.

                Nothing you type is private, so never give out any personal information

E-mail

E-mail makes it easy to stay in touch with friends, but to play it safe:

                It's best not to respond to an e-mail from someone you don't know.

                Don't open files attached to e-mails from someone you don't know.

Exploring the Web

The Internet is a great place to do research for school, shop, and learn more about your hobbies, but for your safety and privacy:

                Avoid "adults only" websites and if you encounter adult material, leave the site immediately.

                If you go to a website that requires you to provide personal information to gain access, ask your parents first.

                Get a parent's permission before buying anything online.

          Talk to a parent or other trusted adult about any information, images, or contacts you encounter that make you feel uncomfortable or seem inappropriate.