be a kid
I’ve been on the internet since 93. I grew up on it.
Things were weird and fucked up for kids online in the 90s, and they’re so much worse now. And so, I write the following. If you have a younger brother or sister, if you have friends who do, if you’re a kid who finds this… please read it.
Don’t use your real name, anywhere, until you’re at least 18.
Don’t put your real name, age, email address, phone number, etc ANYWHERE.
If you HAVE to use facebook, photobucket, youtube: make that stuff private, and KNOW who you’re befriending.
Stay away from any and all chans. And stickam. And Chatroulette.
Turn off your webcam, and keep it off.
Don’t take your clothes off for anyone. Don’t film yourself or photograph yourself because someone tells you to. It won’t make you feel good or make you belong or prove anything to anyone.
People on the internet are weird and messed up and don’t care about you. They’re not your friends.
If you have to be on weird corners of the internet, for god’s sake, be anonymous. Be a lurker if you have to.
If people you’ve never met before are cruel to you, if they go out of their way to try and hurt you, do your very best to ignore it. Once they feel like they won, they’ll move on to make someone else feel terrible. Fighting back will only make it worse.
The internet is awful and wonderful at the same time. It’ll take you a while to find the fun in it.
Be a kid. Being a kid is awesome.
