Cyber Safety Tips for Girls on Instant Messaging

Various e-mail providers offer an instant messaging service that allows members to talk to each other when they are online. This can be great fun—just ask my friends who constantly harassed me—but it also can attract unwanted communication from outside your circle of friends.

Strangers can gain access to e-mail addresses by looking through instant messaging directories that are listed by mail providers. Yahoo, America Online, and Microsoft Network all have directories. To avoid being listed in any of the directories, refer to your e-mail provider’s security section to find out how to eliminate your name from their lists, and follow these precautionary measures:

 

• Sign up for mail anonymously.
• Never use your real name.
• Don’t put any information in the “user profile” section. If it is required, be extremely general.
• Do not accept messages from anyone who is not on your “friends” list.
• Don’t accept messages that are sent to multiple recipients.
• Disable the “Web aware” feature. No one needs to know when you are on- or offline.
• If you get messages from people you do not want to hear from, put them on the “ignore” list.

What to Do if You Are Being Cyberstalked

These are a few recommendations if you find yourself a possible victim of harassment or stalking on the Internet:

• Save all evidence.
• File a report with local law enforcement.
• Report the incident to your ISP. Contact the system administrator and find out about their abuse policy.
• Report the incident to the ISP of the harasser or stalker if you know it.
• File a report with your appropriate ISP channel: Abuse@yahoo.com or postmaster@yahoo.com.
• Change your screen name.
• Change your password.

The laws against cyberstalking differ from state to state. Because of the newness of the Internet, cyberstalking, like stalking, is a relatively new subject to law enforcement. The laws against the crime of stalking have advanced quite a bit in the last ten years. If you are a victim of cyberstalking, check with local police to find out how the laws read in your state. For more direct help, contact a victims’ advocate Web site, like www.wiredpatrol.org or www.wiredkids.org. They can assist you in filing a report and help you with any questions you might have.

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