Help Me Out - your digital rights

Find out how to stay smart and safe online.

The internet is amazing, giving endless opportunities for you to explore, find things out, create stuff and connect with others.

But with all those opportunities, there are also some risks, and responsibilities, which you should watch out for.

When you sign up for something new online (like a game or service), or even get a new piece of tech like a phone, there are lots of Terms and Conditions. These are often very long and not very easy to understand.

So what do you do? Often people just click ‘I agree’ and keep going.

But what’s written in those Terms and Conditions is really important, and you need to know what you’re agreeing to.

Some of the things websites and services may ask you to agree to include –

So even if it takes a bit of time, and you need an adult to help explain what some things mean, it’s important to be aware of what you’re signing up for.

And if there’s something you’re not happy with – don’t click ‘I agree’!

Some sites and apps gather information about you every time you do something online.

It might be personal information, which it asks you for when you make a profile, or less obvious things like the subjects you search for, the pages you look at or the people you are friends with.

Sites and companies may then use this information to show you things they think you will like - which can be handy (for instance, if you want to find more music by a band you’re into)…

…But sometimes you might feel like they know too much about you, or feel like you’re bombarded with ads or suggestions which you don’t really want.

Some browsers and services allow you to change the settings, so you can control what sort of information they do and don’t record about you.

Get help from an adult to make sure your settings are the way you want them.

Whether it’s a selfie with your mates or a picture from your school art project, uploading and sharing your content can be loads of fun and lets you show the world your talent.

But once you’ve uploaded it, do you still own it?

Some websites and services' Terms & Conditions state that, if you use them to store or share your stuff, they get to own it, or they have the right to use it.

That could mean that you see your pictures or content in other places, or used in ways you never expected – and you can’t remove them, even if you delete your original file.

There’s so much new stuff on the internet every day, it can be hard to remember what happened yesterday.

But that doesn’t mean that information just disappears.

A lot of what is written or posted online NEVER gets deleted – which can mean that something you said or did (and might have forgotten about) could suddenly reappear years from now – and that could be awkward, embarrassing or even upsetting.

Some sites will let you take down or delete posts, but it’s not always a quick or straightforward thing to do – and if information has been copied or shared on other sites, you might not be able to control what happens to it.

To use most social media sites you should be aged 13+. If, however you have an issue or concern about anything you see or hear about on social media, the easiest way to get help is to contact their reporting centres directly. 

Check out the BBC's Stay Safe page for tips on reporting something to a social media site.

As a rule, always think before you post – is what you’re sharing safe, would you be happy for anyone to see it, and do you mind that it might be there forever?

For more information about the life of your posts online, check out Garrett’s Digital Footprint advice.

Remember, not everything that you see, hear or read on the internet is true!

Sometimes stories can come from a genuine mistake – somebody heard a rumour or misunderstood something, and then a few shares later the wrong information has spread to hundreds (or even thousands!) of people – oops!

But sometimes people deliberately make up fake stories, or try to make others think a certain way by only giving some of the facts.

Some fake stories can be very sophisticated and it can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.

When you’re watching or reading anything online, stop and think –

If you’re finding it tricky to know what to believe, ask an adult for advice.

Just as some stories aren’t always what they seem online, the same goes for people.

Not everyone is honest when describing themselves (for instance, in their online gaming profile) so be aware that just because a person says they are called a particular name, are a certain age or live somewhere, you can’t be sure.

Even people’s profile pictures can be fake.

They might have used a filter, or manipulated the picture to make them look different – or they might have used a picture of someone else entirely!

You can only really be sure you know a person online if you already know them in real life.

NEVER share personal information with someone who you have only met online.

As a smart and savvy digital person, you also have a responsibility to make sure that the way you are using the internet means you are treating others with respect.

Always remember to –

And for lots of information about tackling cyberbullying, check out the Lifebabble Help Me Out page.

Anyone can slip up or make a mistake when using the internet – so it’s really important to know how to protect yourself, and where to get help and support if you need it.

If you’ve seen or done something online which is making you feel worried, upset or embarrassed, don’t keep it to yourself.

Ask a trusted adult, like a parent or teacher, for help.

You can also report content or messages, either to the website itself, or to independent services like CEOP, if you think something is inappropriate or upsetting.

And remember – spending time online can be really fun and rewarding; but make sure you’re not missing out on life in the real world too!

For more information about staying safe online, check out the Lifebabble Guide to Digital Safety, or go to the CBBC Stay Safe collection.