Staying safe online - Deaf Zone

The internet is great. It can help you find information and chat to friends. But sometimes things happen that you don't like, or that you're unsure about. Get tips on how to stay safe online and where to get help.

keeping safe online

When we're online, we can:

  • learn about people and places around the world
  • play games and share things with other people
  • watch, chat and sign to friends we know, and people we don't know.

It's easy to chat to new people on the internet. Sometimes chatting to strangers can be fun. But it's important to be careful - you never really know who you're chatting to.

Sometimes people might:

  • write nasty things
  • write things that make us feel uncomfortable
  • show us things we didn't want to see, like rude photos or things our parents wouldn't want us to see.

If someone is doing something you don't like, you can make it stop. And Childline can help.

3 ways to stay safe online: 

  • keep your personal details private
  • don't meet people you don't know
  • don’t share anything you wouldn’t want your parents or teachers to see.

How to Stay Safe Online

Online safety tips

PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY

Don’t upload pictures that can easily identify you. For example, don’t use photos which include your:

  • school name or school badge
  • sports club
  • home address.

Photos can be seen by people you don't know online.

THINK BEFORE YOU POST

Once you upload a photo of yourself, your photos can be copied and shared with everyone and posted in places where you can’t delete them.

Only upload photos you feel okay sharing and don’t upload pictures of friends without their permission.

If you’re worried about something you’ve posted and want to talk to someone about it, we can support you.

KEEP YOUR PASSWORD PRIVATE

When you create a new password, like the one for your Locker, it can be hard to pick something you can remember.

Your passwords are private. Try to:

  • choose something that others wouldn't be able to guess
  • use a mix of numbers and letters
  • keep your password somewhere safe.

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU CHAT TO

You don't really know who people are online. If someone contacts you or a friend with weird or nasty messages:

  • don’t give out personal details (like your number or home address)
  • stop replying, and save the messages they send you
  • tell someone you trust, like a parent or teacher, and show them what you've been sent
  • don’t arrange to meet them.

get involved with the deaf community

If you'd like to meet other d/Deaf young people, there are a few places to get started.

feeling
threatened
…what can I do?

Get support with staying safe online

chat or sign to a counsellor

There are lots of ways to get support from Childline if you're deaf. You can have a 1-2-1 chat, send an email to a counsellor or use SignVideo.

Using BSL with SignVideo

SignVideo lets you contact a counsellor through a BSL interpreter. You can use it between Monday – Friday, 8am - 8pm and on Saturdays, 8am - 1pm.

How to use SignVideo:

  • open SignVideo and click "allow webcam"
  • if an error message appears that says that your browser is not supported, just click 'close and don't show again'.
  • when you're connected, an interpreter will appear on your screen
  • you can chat to the interpreter in BSL
  • they'll translate your conversation to the counsellor.

Contacting Childline when you’re d/Deaf

Overcoming challenges if you're deaf

Contacting Childline