Online Safety

Hi! I've noticed a trend that many Internet users are uneducated on online safety. I created this guide to inform readers about steps you can take to protect yourself and others.

Telling others what to do doesn't get anyone anywhere. To encourage readers to make informed decisions for themselves, each tip is explained and alternative solutions are suggested. Don't ever just blindly follow advice from strangers on the Internet!

Let's get into it!

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Tip #1: Don't share your real name online. You've probably heard this before! Don't use any part of your legal name online (i.e. first, middle, or last name). If you're trans, don't use any name that you might make your legal name in the future.

Why? There are many, many reasons. Identity theft, phishing, scams, doxxing, getting access to your bank account...

What can I do instead? Come up with a fun username. It can show your personality and keep your identity safe at the same time! :D

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Tip #2: Don't share your age/birth date online. Specifically, if you are a minor (i.e. someone under the age of 18), then don't publicly post the fact that you are a minor. Don't do those fun, quirky little Moon Moon activities either.

Why? Your birth date is something commonly used to identify you. For example, when you visit a doctor's office, they ask you for your birth date to confirm that you are you! If you ever lose your birth certificate, they may ask you for your birth date to confirm that you are you as well. Someone trying to steal your identity can use your birth date to convince other beings that they are you... Not good!

In addition to that, predators will be more likely to target you if they know that you are a minor. By putting "I'm 13!" in your bio, you are putting a target on your back. It's very unsafe.

What can I do instead? You can share your age-range. For example, saying "I'm in my 40s" is not very specific, but it still lets others know a bit about you. :)

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Tip #3: Don't share your location. Don't share the city that you currently live in. Don't share your current address. Don't even share your favorite dog park where you like to walk Sparky!

Why? Unfortunately, there are some beings in this world that seek to hurt others. Keeping your exact location a secret reduces the likelihood that one of these beings will find you and hurt you. This is especially true if you are a minor.

Your address can also be used in conjunction with other personal information (i.e. your legal name, your birth date) to access private things such as your bank account.

What can I do instead? If you feel comfortable, you can share the country and/or timezone that you are in. It isn't specific, but it still gives other beings a general idea of where you're from and what your culture is like.

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Tip #4: Don't share photos of your face. Unless you are trying to make it big as a YouTuber, TikTok influencer, or model, then I would suggest refraining from posting photos and videos of your face. If you are a minor, then do NOT share photos of yourself that are sexual and/or suggestive.

Why? With the rise of A.I. generated images, I feel like I don't have to explain this one. If you don't want your likeness stolen or used without your permission, then you shouldn't post photos of yourself online.

In addition to that, any employers or coworkers you work with will be able to easily identify you by your photos. There have been incidents in which employees got fired from their jobs due to things they posted online.

As a minor, posting photos and videos of yourself that are sexual and/or suggestive is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. In some countries, this is illegal. You also are opening yourself up to being groomed and/or targeted by predators. If anyone is pressuring you to take photos like this, then please tell a trusted adult immediately.

What can I do instead? Drawing yourself is a fun activity that can give your online friends a general idea of what you look like without actually revealing your face. If you're not an artist, you can make a Picrew! You can also look into alternative methods of self-expression such as fursonas or object heads.

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Tip #5: Don't share photos of your house. Don't share photos of your school. Don't share photos of the street that you live on.

Why? You've probably seen YouTube videos where beings play GeoGuessr - a game in which the player has to guess locations from Google Street View. By using photos of your house, other beings online can guess your address. (Refer back to Tip #3!)

What can I do instead? If you absolutely must post a photo because it's just so cool and awesome, then you can crop out anything that could be used to identify your location. Crop out street signs and unique landmarks. Don't use a blurring tool, though, as these can be undone by other beings online.

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Tip #6: If you do share a photo online, erase the photo's metadata. Run your photo through a metadata removal app that you trust. You can also upload the photos to your computer and remove them yourself: https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-security/remove-metadata-from-photos/

Why? Photo metadata is extra data that is attached to a digital photo. The data often includes how, when, and sometimes where a photo was taken. Photo metadata is normally used to aid photographers in the organization of their photos. However, other beings online can use it to find information such as the location your photos were taken at. (Refer back to Tip #3!)

What can I do instead? If you don't have a reliable and/or trustworthy metadata removal app and you aren't very tech-savvy, then you can opt to simply not post any photos that you have taken online.

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Tip #7: DON'T FEED THE TROLLS! If someone is harassing you online, then don't give them a reaction. Don't harass them back. Don't reply to them with sick and epic burns. Don't PWN them. Simply block or ignore them. Oftentimes, trolls will try to "play dumb" and make it seem like they're not actually trolling. If you're unfamiliar with the concept, then this WikiHow page can help you identify and deal with trolls: https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-a-Troll

Why? Trolls intentionally instigate shit in order to get a reaction out of beings. Their entire goal is to make others upset and they thrive off of anger. If you don't give them a reaction, then you're taking away their fun and they will stop.

What can I do instead? It's always okay to log off your computer or turn off your phone for a little while. Sometimes, the things others say online can really get to us - and that's okay! Take the time to cool off and find something to do outside of the Internet until you feel ready to come back. :)

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Tip #8: The block button is your friend. Don't like someone? Block them! Someone is harassing you or your friends? Block them! Your uncle keeps posting right-wing conspiracy theories and pictures of him with his confederate flags on Facebook? BLOCK HIM!

Why? I am a huge believer in the idea that everyone is in charge of curating their own online experience. You're not going to have a fun time if you continually interact with content that you do not like. For example, if you're afraid of bugs, then it's okay to block everyone that likes and posts photos of bugs all the time. It's not rude, and there's nothing wrong with making yourself feel more comfortable.

What can I do instead? If blocking someone doesn't feel like a valid option to you, then some websites have the feature to filter content. For example, Tumblr's blacklist feature allows you to filter out posts with specific tags or words in them. Some web browsers - such as Firefox - have extensions that can blacklist stuff, too!

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Tip #9: Use content warnings. Talking about a new movie? SPOILER ALERT! Talking about a common trigger such as sexual assault? TRIGGER WARNING! Posting a gif that's flashing rainbow strobe lights? FLASH WARNING!

You can use the following HTML code to hide and spoil anything that you want:

<details>
  <summary>CONTENT WARNING: fish</summary>
  Today I ate some fish! It was soooooo tasty.
</details>

The code will look like this (and it's clickable!):

CONTENT WARNING: fish

Today I ate some fish! It was soooooo tasty.

Why? It's polite, and it helps keep others safe and comfortable.

Getting spoiled about the plot of a new movie is a bummer, but an epileptic being having a seizure because you didn't warn anyone about your rainbow profile is a serious problem. It's important for beings with epilepsy, color blindness, and/or migraine disorders that you spoil and/or warn for flashing. Describing the intensity of colors and the type of flashing can also help them make an informed decision about whether or not they want to view the gif/video.

At the end of the day, it is other beings' own responsibility to take care of themselves. It's impossible to cover every trigger for every being in every situation... That would be exhausting! However, there's nothing wrong with providing a content warning for the most common triggers such as sexual assault, self harm, suicide, drugs, unreality, and abuse. This is important for everyone, but it's especially important for beings with PTSD and similar mental health issues.

What can I do instead? Since this is an accessibility issue, I would strongly suggest just warning others about the type of stuff you post. However, I understand that everyone is different. If you're someone who talks about triggering subjects a lot, then you can opt to put a warning on your entire profile rather than on individual bulletins or blog posts.

As for warning for flashing... whip up some cool HTML or CSS that puts a warning over your SpaceHey profile! Make what you're all about well-known! "Hello, world! I love flashing rainbows! Don't proceed unless you want to see LOTS of flashing rainbows! Rawr!" You can also opt to not post flashing gifs or videos with strobe lights at all.

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That's all of my tips for now! So, did you learn anything new?

Obviously, this isn't an extensive list. I just wanted to cover the basics for others who may not yet be aware of some of these concepts. If you have any tips that you'd like me to consider adding, then please leave a comment containing your suggestion.

Feel free to share these tips with others.

Let's all work together to keep one another safe and comfortable!