How to Protect Our LGBTQIA+ Youth Online: Tips for a Safe Online Environment

Four months into 2022, the increase in cyber threats continues to besiege our #LGBTQIA+ community, causing great harm and lasting consequences. You may have recalled our previous post about cyberbullying, and may now be searching for more ways to help someone who is suffering from online threats like invasion of privacy, sexting, and harassment. But, are unsure how or where to start when it comes to creating a safe online environment for our youth. At Pride Clothes we understand how difficult it is to overcome and combat these alarming threats. Thus, we have compiled some internet safety tips from various sources to provide you, Beloved, and our LGBTQIA+ community with effective tools necessary to conquer and defeat these obstacles to keep you out of harm’s way.

Teaching Young Children and Teens About Online Risks

It is no surprise that smart devices like mobile phones and tablets have become must-haves in this technologically advance society. A quick call to friends or family, posting pictures and videos, online gaming, and chatting using apps has become a daily routine for many, especially amongst the youth that spend most of their time online. More than ever our LGTBQIA+ youth is exposed to online risks like online predators and strangers who may appear as a support system for our youth when they are really there for malicious reasons or ill intent. Teaching young children and teens about these types of online threats will provide them with a means to recognize and avoid potential risks to keep them safe and protected.

 

Online Safety Tips That Can Help

One of the best tips to offer and provide the youth is to never give out personal information. This includes your name, contact number, your address, work address, and other similar information. When someone asks for this type of information, you should ask yourself whether or not you truly know the person you are considering revealing this information to and are comfortable in doing so. Ask yourself if you will feel safe providing this information to them. If not, chances are you are right, you shouldn’t offer or give your personal information. Here are other online safety tips to consider following:

• Just like your personal information, avoid sending pictures or videos of yourself to online strangers.

• Report inappropriate sexual messages to you parents, guardians, or the authorities.

• Do not open email messages from people you do not know.

• If you are being bullied online, do not respond to their hurtful and insulting messages.

• Do not agree to meet face-to-face with someone you have only chatted or met with online.

New Resources for More Tips and Information About Creating a Safe Online Environment

ConsumerNotice.org has been added to our updated resources page as they provide useful information to help create a safe online environment for kids. Their organization has contributed to some of the tips mentioned above.

The National Cybersecurity Alliance is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create a more secure, interconnected world. They have also provided additional tips to help avoid and prevent real-life unintended consequences.

Internet Matters is another excellent resource for information and to keep kids safe online. They have created a guide to help the #LGBTQ+ community stay safe while gaming. Click here for their guide.

We hope that these tips and resources provide you with the utmost support, Darling. Now go on and have some fun while looking absolutely fabulous. Stay #Beautiful, stay #Awesome, stay #Proud and most importantly #staysafe always.