One of the best things about the Internet is the ability to keep in touch with friends and family and also make new friends. You can get help and advice, support, submit applications, or just share a laugh between friends.

There are many ways of communicating with people online including; emails, chatrooms, instant messenger, message boards, forums, personal web pages and social networking websites. Chatrooms, message boards and forums can be great fun and you can meet really interesting people.

Don’t be scared of using them, just be cautious.

There are a few useful tips to remember when communicating with others online:

• If you are communicating with someone in a chatroom or a message board, then don’t give out your personal information (like full name, email addresses, date of birth or home address). If you don’t want the world to know it, then don’t write it!

• You can never really be sure who you are speaking to in chatrooms and message boards – remember, anyone can call themselves anything.

(See The Grapevine for a local, safe chatroom.)

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