How to Chat Safely in Yahoo! Messenger
Online chatting has become a very popular form of communication. Chat rooms and forums allow people to communicate with others online around the world. But you never really know who you're talking to online, so it's important to protect yourself and your information by knowing how to chat safely on Yahoo! Messenger.
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Instructions
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Keep your screen name vague. Don't reveal any personal information about yourself in your screen name. Avoid using your birth date, last name or any numbers or words that you use as identifiers on bank accounts or personal information.
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Use the provided icons instead of personal pictures. Only use a personal picture as your Yahoo! Messenger chat icon when chatting with friends and family members you know and trust. Using a personal picture when chatting with strangers could leave you vulnerable to online predators or stalkers.
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Limit your profile information. Yahoo! Messenger allows chatters to build a profile with personal information, including your birth date and address. Keep this information vague or don't add it at all, especially not your address or phone number. The less information you give out, the less chance you have of someone dangerous finding you online or attempting to steal your identity.
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Chat politely. Part of being safe is not instigating trouble with other chatters. If someone says something that you disagree with it's okay to debate with them respectfully. Don't be rude, offensive or abusive; this could get you in trouble with Yahoo! Messenger, and it could also earn you a potentially dangerous online enemy.
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Report any problems to Yahoo! Messenger immediately. Messenger allows you to report any inappropriate or offensive messages or pictures sent by other chatters to the site moderator. Forward this material to Yahoo! Messenger's security team if you get it and let them handle the situation to help keep yourself and other chatters safe.
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Refuse any invitations to meet in person with anyone that you meet in a chat room on Yahoo! Messenger. Don't agree to any offline meetings with someone that you don't already know and trust offline.
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