the Do Not Call Registry online at
Understand what you are sending and
www.donotcall.gov/.
receiving. Text message language
consists of many shortcuts which appear
Use Common Sense
as acronyms and/or symbols that, to the
uninitiated, can be incomprehensible.
Cell Phone
Such as, f U do not undRstNd DIS Be careful if you meet someone in real life
sNteNc U nEd 2 Lern txt lingo (If you do who you’ve only “known” through text
not understand this sentence you need to messaging. Even though text messaging is
learn text lingo). There are obvious risks often the “next step” after online
Safety
here, from danger or embarrassment in chatting, that does not mean it’s safer.
responding inappropriately to a message You still do not really know who you are
you do not understand. talking to/text messaging with and they
may not be truthful about who they are.
Be aware of what your child is sending or With any face-to-face meeting, tell
reading. As a parent, learn what the someone where you are going, take a
acronyms and symbols mean. At the end friend with you and meet during daylight
of the day it could save vital time in the hours in a public place you are familiar
unthinkable event that something with (like the mall).
happens to your child and their cell
phone or IM conversation record is your Don’t be a target. Wandering around with
only clue. your phone in plain sight can be dangerous.
If you are not using it, put it in your
Cyberbullying pocket, purse or backpack and only use it
in public when necessary. Cell phone theft
Cyberbullies are now turning to text is a common crime and often, thieves will
technology to harass their victims. attack the owner of a phone.
Text harassment is a crime and When talking on your phone, be aware of
•
should be reported to the police. your surroundings and who is coming and
going. Concentrating more on your phone
If you are receiving threatening or
• conversation than what is going on around
malicious messages by SMS (Short you makes you more likely to become a
Message Service), report it to the victim of a crime.
police with all the messages you have
received. They will then work with Don’t give out personal information (bank
Mesa Police Department
the networks to stop the problem. information, social security number, etc.)
www.mesaaz.gov/police
over the phone; you don’t know who is
Register your phone to prevent
• listening to your conversation and they can
nuisance calls and annoying text use your personal information to steal
messages (SMS spam, cold calling and your identity.
telemarketers). Register online with

C ell phones can be a great home, they are particularly vulnerable Set your phone
•
communication and safety tool. Not because they are out of their parents to vibrate, not
only can kids keep up with their friends, reach. Predators can groom a child on the ring.
they can check in with parents, respond Internet and then contact the child via
Talk normally;
to their parents calls, and phone for help •
cell phone to arrange a face-to-face
there is no
in case of an emergency. However, there meeting.
need to shout.
are safety issues to be aware of. When
Protecting Your Privacy
you give a child a cell phone, you give
Don’t text and walk; if you are looking
•
them access to the world and the world
at the phone you are not aware of your
access to them, including when they are Only give your cell number out to
•
surroundings.
away from home and from parental people you know and trust.
supervision. What’s more, today’s cell
Think about how a text message might
phones are also Web browsers and instant Never reply to text messages from
•
read, before you send it. Just like e-mail,
messenger and e-mail terminals. Just people you don’t know.
text messages can be taken the wrong
about everything you do from a PC, you
way.
Know how to block others from calling
•
can also do from a cell phone.
your phone.
Don’t give out anyone else’s cell number
With a color screen, your child can view
without first getting their permission; you
Know how to block your number when
•
the same type of graphic material that is
never know what it will be used for.
calling or text messaging others.
available on the Internet at home from
their cell phone. A built-in digital camera
Text and Instant Message
Most cell phones have caller ID on by
means that your child can not only see
default. That means when you call or send
Safety
inappropriate material, but can send it as
a text message to someone, you are giving
well in the form of a digital photo or
that person your phone number, which can
movie. Pushing a few buttons can send a Make sure that online profiles do not
•
then be used to make harassing calls as
child’s image, phone number and mobile e- contain any personal information.
well as to send unwanted instant messages
mail address to the wrong person. It is
and e-mail. It is not uncommon for bullies
even possible to instantly post photos on Avoid posting your cell phone number
•
to use cell phones to harass other kids. If
the Web for all to see. Some gyms have online. Once it has been made
your child experiences harassing phone
banned cell phones in the available, your number can be used by
calls, text messages or any other type of
locker rooms because of spammers, scammers, identity thieves,
problem, call the provider to see about
concerns about online predators and cyberbullies.
getting the number changed. Make sure to
inappropriate photographs. There are directories which can reveal
guard the new number so the same information about a customer when
problems will not happen again.
Predators now cannot only their phone number is entered.
send kids messages, but
Respect Others
they can also call them to Never let someone you don’t know use
•
arrange meetings. Because your cell phone. If it’s an emergency,
kids can access the phone Keep calls short. Try sending a text make the call for them.
•
while they’re away from message instead of calling.