Module 7: Social Media and Chat Safety

Learn how to stay safe when chatting and sharing with others online.

Easy Level: Social Media Basics

Welcome to the Easy Level! Let's learn how to use social media and chat apps safely:

What social media and chat apps are
How to set up privacy settings
What information is safe to share
How to be kind when chatting online
When to talk to a grown-up about online conversations

Before You Start

This level has 5 questions to help you learn about social media and chat safety.

Learn about privacy settings and why they're important
Understand what information is safe to share online
Find out how to chat safely with others
Discover when to ask grown-ups for help

Beginner Level Questions

Question 1 of 5

1. What are social media and chat apps?

Apps and websites where you can connect with friends, share photos, and send messages

Only games that you play online

Apps that help with homework

Correct Answer

Social media and chat apps are apps and websites where you can connect with friends, share photos, and send messages.

Key Points:

Social media lets you share photos, videos, and thoughts with others
Chat apps let you send messages to friends and family
Examples include kids' versions of messaging apps, video chat, and kid-friendly social platforms

2. What should you do with your social media privacy settings?

Keep them public so everyone can see your posts

Ignore them because they're not important

Set them to private and only allow people you know in real life to see your posts

Correct Answer

You should set your privacy settings to private and only allow people you know in real life to see your posts.

Key Points:

Privacy settings help control who can see what you share online
Ask a grown-up to help you set up privacy settings on any new app
Check your privacy settings regularly to make sure they haven't changed

3. Which of these is safe to share on social media?

Your home address and phone number

A picture of your pet (with a parent's permission)

The name of your school and your schedule

Correct Answer

With a parent's permission, sharing a picture of your pet is safe.

Key Points:

Never share personal information like your address, phone number, or school details
Always ask a grown-up before posting any pictures online
It's okay to share general interests like favorite colors or foods, but not specific details about your life

4. How should you treat others when chatting online?

It doesn't matter because they can't see you

You can say whatever you want because it's just online

Be kind and respectful, just like you would in person

Correct Answer

You should be kind and respectful when chatting online, just like you would in person.

Key Points:

Remember there's a real person with feelings on the other side of the screen
Think about how your words might make someone feel before sending a message
If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't say it online

5. When should you tell a grown-up about an online conversation?

When someone you don't know tries to chat with you

Never - what happens online should stay online

Only if someone threatens you

Correct Answer

Tell a grown-up when someone you don't know tries to chat with you.

Key Points:

Always tell a grown-up if a stranger messages you, even if they seem nice
Tell a grown-up if anyone asks for your personal information
Tell a grown-up if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, or confused

Easy Level Completed!

Great job! You've learned the basics of social media and chat safety:

App Expert: You understand what social media and chat apps are
Privacy Pro: You know how to use privacy settings to stay safe
Sharing Smartie: You understand what's safe to share online
Kind Communicator: You know how to treat others respectfully online
Safety Seeker: You understand when to tell grown-ups about online conversations

Ready to learn more about social media and chat safety in the Medium Level?

Medium Level: Chatting Safely Online

Now let's learn more about staying safe when chatting with others online:

How to recognize safe vs. unsafe chat situations
What to do if someone asks for personal information
Understanding online friendships vs. real-life friendships
How to handle mean or uncomfortable messages
Using group chats and video calls safely

Before You Start

This level helps you learn how to chat safely with others online.

Learn how to recognize warning signs in online conversations
Find out what to do if someone asks for personal information
Understand the difference between online and real-life friends
Discover how to handle uncomfortable situations

Medium Level Questions

Question 1 of 5

1. How can you tell if a chat situation might be unsafe?

If the person uses a profile picture of a cartoon character

If someone you don't know asks personal questions or wants to keep your conversation secret

If they use emojis in their messages

Correct Answer

A chat situation might be unsafe if someone you don't know asks personal questions or wants to keep your conversation secret.

Key Points:

Be careful if someone asks where you live, what school you go to, or when you're home alone
It's a warning sign if they say "don't tell your parents about our chat"
Be cautious if they try to move your conversation to a different app or private chat

2. What should you do if someone online asks for your personal information?

Don't share it and tell a trusted grown-up right away

Share it if they seem nice

Give them fake information instead

Correct Answer

If someone asks for your personal information online, don't share it and tell a trusted grown-up right away.

Key Points:

Never share your full name, address, phone number, or school name with people you meet online
Even if they say they're a kid your age, you can't be sure who they really are
Tell a grown-up immediately so they can help keep you safe

3. What's the difference between online friends and real-life friends?

There's no difference - they're exactly the same

Online-only friends are people you haven't met in person, so you can't be sure who they really are

Real-life friends aren't as fun as online friends

Correct Answer

Online-only friends are people you haven't met in person, so you can't be sure who they really are.

Key Points:

People can pretend to be someone they're not online
It's safer to only chat with people you already know in real life
Never meet an online-only friend in person without a trusted grown-up

4. What should you do if someone sends you mean or uncomfortable messages?

Send mean messages back to teach them a lesson

Don't respond, save the messages if you can, block the person, and tell a grown-up

Keep talking to them but change the subject

Correct Answer

If someone sends you mean or uncomfortable messages, don't respond, save the messages if you can, block the person, and tell a grown-up.

Key Points:

Responding often makes the situation worse
Taking screenshots of the messages can help grown-ups understand what happened
Blocking the person prevents them from sending you more messages

5. How can you use group chats and video calls safely?

Join any group chat or video call you're invited to

Share the links to your group chats with everyone

Only join chats with people you know, check who's in a call before joining, and be careful what you share on camera

Correct Answer

Use group chats and video calls safely by only joining chats with people you know, checking who's in a call before joining, and being careful what you share on camera.

Key Points:

Make sure you know everyone in the group chat or video call
Be aware of what's visible in your background during video calls
Remember that others can take screenshots or recordings of video calls

Medium Level Completed!

Awesome work! You've learned important skills for chatting safely online:

Safety Detector: You can recognize unsafe chat situations
Information Guardian: You know how to protect your personal information
Friendship Expert: You understand the difference between online and real-life friends
Message Manager: You know how to handle mean or uncomfortable messages
Group Chat Guardian: You understand how to use group chats and video calls safely

Ready to learn advanced social media safety skills?

Difficult Level: Social Media Safety

Now let's learn advanced skills for staying safe on social media:

Understanding different social media platforms
Managing your digital footprint
Dealing with cyberbullying on social media
Recognizing and avoiding online scams
Creating a positive online presence

Before You Start

This level teaches you advanced skills for using social media safely and responsibly.

Learn about different social media platforms and their features
Find out how to manage what information about you exists online
Understand how to handle negative interactions on social media
Discover how to create a positive online presence

Difficult Level Questions

Question 1 of 5

1. What are some popular social media platforms and what are they used for?

They're all the same and only used for playing games

Different platforms have different purposes - some for sharing photos, some for videos, some for messaging

Social media is only for adults

Correct Answer

Different social media platforms have different purposes - some for sharing photos, some for videos, some for messaging.

Key Points:

Some platforms focus on sharing photos and videos
Others are designed for short videos or messages
Many platforms have age restrictions (usually 13+) and require parent permission

2. What is a digital footprint?

The marks your shoes leave on your computer

The trail of information about you that exists online from your activities

A type of computer virus

Correct Answer

A digital footprint is the trail of information about you that exists online from your activities.

Key Points:

Everything you post, comment on, or like becomes part of your digital footprint
Information about you that others post also contributes to your digital footprint
Your digital footprint can last a very long time - sometimes forever

3. What should you do if you experience cyberbullying on social media?

Bully them back to teach them a lesson

Keep it a secret because it's embarrassing

Don't respond, save evidence, block the person, and tell a trusted grown-up

Correct Answer

If you experience cyberbullying, don't respond, save evidence, block the person, and tell a trusted grown-up.

Key Points:

Take screenshots of bullying messages or posts as evidence
Use the platform's reporting tools to report bullying behavior
Remember that cyberbullying is never your fault, and you deserve help

4. How can you recognize online scams on social media?

They're impossible to recognize

They offer things that seem too good to be true, create urgency, or ask for personal information

They never appear on social media

Correct Answer

Online scams often offer things that seem too good to be true, create urgency, or ask for personal information.

Key Points:

Be suspicious of messages about winning prizes or getting free stuff
Be careful of messages that say "Act now!" or "Limited time only!"
Never click on links from people you don't know or that seem suspicious

5. How can you create a positive online presence?

By posting as many photos and videos as possible

By pretending to be someone you're not

By being kind, sharing positive content, and thinking before you post

Correct Answer

Create a positive online presence by being kind, sharing positive content, and thinking before you post.

Key Points:

Share content that shows your interests and things you care about
Be supportive and kind in your comments to others
Think about how your posts might be viewed by family, teachers, or future friends
Remember that what you post now might be seen years later

Module 7 Completed!

Amazing job! You're now an expert at social media and chat safety:

Platform Pro: You understand different social media platforms and their purposes
Digital Footprint Manager: You know how to manage your online information
Cyberbullying Defender: You know how to handle cyberbullying on social media
Scam Spotter: You can recognize and avoid online scams
Positive Presence Creator: You understand how to create a positive online presence

You now know how to stay safe when chatting and sharing with others online! Want to test your knowledge again or try another module?