On February 9, 2010, join Kiwi Commons in celebrating European Safer Internet Day to help promote the importance of thinking before you post, a campaign dedicated to helping youth make smarter choices online.

“While it takes a lifetime to build a good reputation, it could take just one click to lose it.”

This February, Internet safety will be spotlighted on a global level as organizations worldwide host a series of offline and online events.  Kiwi Commons is among the participating organizations who will be launching the global Internet campaign “Are You Clickable”, in tow with this year’s theme “Think Before You Post.”

The aim of the campaign is to make kids’ online profiles less clickable  to in turn protect kids’ identities and increase their online privacy.

Click here to watch our video about the campaign, and click here to join our Facebook campaign.

How You Can Participate?
Kiwi Commons is inviting youths, along with their parents, to make the commitment to clean up their online reputation and increase their online privacy by taking the “Are You Clickable” pledge here www.Facebook.com/KiwiCommons . By joining, you are pledging that you not only think before you post, but that your personal information and online identity is important to you.

Are You Too Clickable?
If your profile is clickable, you may be sharing too much personal information. So, what’s safe to post? Find out by reading through our three “R’s” – reduce, revise and regulate:

•   Reduce: Keep personally identifying information online to a minimum.  This means examining content shared across all online spaces and removing inappropriate or questionable photos, wall posts, forum posts, blogs, online contacts, personal details on social networking profiles and account information for registered online services.

•    Revise: Ensure all sites and online applications accessed are age-appropriate and kid-friendly, weeding out anything considered unsuitable for children.  This includes forums, social networking sites, web and mobile applications, chat services, online games, and video and music sharing sites. Parents should survey for inappropriate material, age restrictions, privacy policies and terms of use, security measures and the demographic makeup. This step also requires adjusting available privacy and security controls on social sites, chat services, and IM applications.

•    Regulate: After the clean up, follow up by going over a set of rules to govern Internet use, instill safe and healthy online habits, and maintain a respectable and low-key online presence.  This includes when you can go online, for how long, what activities you can do online, what websites and services you can use and what information you can share.

Where to Start?
Below is a directory of online guides on Internet safety, courtesy of Kiwi Commons, to assist you in your online clean-up and from which you can develop a comprehensive Internet safety plan:

Internet 101
My Internet Safety Pledge – For Kids, By Kids
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/09/my-internet-safety-pledge-for-kids-by-kids/]

What Exactly Are Kids Doing Online?
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/06/what-exactly-are-kids-doing-online/]

Internet Safety – A Teen’s Approach
[http://kiwicommons.com/2010/01/internet-safety-a-teens-approach/]

Internet Addiction? Not in My House! – Tips for Parents
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/10/internet-addiction-not-in-my-house-%E2%80%93-tips-for-parents/]

Seven Ways You’re Breaking the Law Online
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/10/seven-ways-you-may-be-breaking-the-law/]

Internet and Gaming 101 for Parents
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/07/internet-and-gaming-101-for-parents/]

Why Parental Controls don’t work but Safe Parenting does
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/06/why-parental-controls-don%E2%80%99t-work-but-safe-parenting-does/]

How to Protect your Identity
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/03/how-to-protect-your-identity/]

Social Media
Who is your child chatting with? – A Parent’s Guide to Chat Safety
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/12/who-is-your-child-chatting-with-a-parents-guide-to-chat-safety/]

5 Lessons on Sexting
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/11/kiwi-in-latest-canadian-teacher-magazine/]

Update: Facebook Privacy Settings Guide
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/12/facebook-privacy-settings-guide/]

Avoiding Dangerous Tweets and Sneaky Spammers
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/10/avoiding-dangerous-twitter-tweet/]

What is Appropriate Social Network Behaviour?
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/09/appropriate-social-network-behaviour-%E2%80%93four-guidelines/]

How Safe Are Your Pictures on Facebook?
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/08/how-safe-are-your-pictures-on-facebook/]

Social Network Safety Tips for Parents
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/07/social-network-safety-tips-for-parents/]

Safety First Before Your Children Go Online
[http://kiwicommons.com/2009/07/safety-first-before-your-children-go-online/]

Join in by taking the “Are You Clickable? ” pledge on Facebook here, and help your friends and family stay safe online.

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