Keeping Personal Info Private
Gwen, a 5th Grader, found a website that was for preteens, where there were monitored chats. That meant that an adult watched over what was said in the "chat room," so Gwen's mother thought it was okay for her to talk to other kids on there. Gwen met a girl named Tiffany who was in 6th Grade. The two girls got to know each other very well because they "talked" online all the time in the "chat room." The girls started to IM each other. Gwen knew she wasn't supposed to IM anyone she met online, but Tiffany was such a good friend that she was sure it was okay. Gwen shared a lot of personal information with Tiffany like the name of her school and sports team.
In one of their first IMs, they found out they lived in the same city. Some of Gwens' friends at school didn't think Tiffany was real, but Gwen didn't care. Tiffany was more important to her then the kids at school. Tiffany suggested that Gwen sneak out of her house at night and take a bus to meet her at the mall. Gwen knew that it would be better if her mother or father drove her so she asked her mother if she'd taker her to the mall so she could meet her friend Tiffany. Gwen's mom did not know that the two girls had met online. Once she found out, she explained to Tiffany that she didn't really know this person she was planning to meet. She asked how Gwen could be sure Tiffany is who she says she is.
Gwen's mom finally agreed to go along with her to meet Tiffany but Gwen wanted to go alone to be "cool." Her mom did not allow her to go, and took away her computer privileges. People sometimes pretend to be someone they aren't to trick you into doing something that you wouldn't ordinarily do. Like riding a bus alone to the mall at night to meet a stranger. It was not okay for Gwen to share her personal information with someone she was chatting with. An online friend is still a stranger.
In one of their first IMs, they found out they lived in the same city. Some of Gwens' friends at school didn't think Tiffany was real, but Gwen didn't care. Tiffany was more important to her then the kids at school. Tiffany suggested that Gwen sneak out of her house at night and take a bus to meet her at the mall. Gwen knew that it would be better if her mother or father drove her so she asked her mother if she'd taker her to the mall so she could meet her friend Tiffany. Gwen's mom did not know that the two girls had met online. Once she found out, she explained to Tiffany that she didn't really know this person she was planning to meet. She asked how Gwen could be sure Tiffany is who she says she is.
Gwen's mom finally agreed to go along with her to meet Tiffany but Gwen wanted to go alone to be "cool." Her mom did not allow her to go, and took away her computer privileges. People sometimes pretend to be someone they aren't to trick you into doing something that you wouldn't ordinarily do. Like riding a bus alone to the mall at night to meet a stranger. It was not okay for Gwen to share her personal information with someone she was chatting with. An online friend is still a stranger.
