#online safety

[sweetpumpkinmouse]

Do lawmakers even know how stupid KOSA truly is as a bill, if not dangerous. Think about it: having to give ID containing SENSITIVE INFORMATION (literally against Internet Safety 101) just to go on the internet. Being a minor having to do that is so dangerous and would put them in more danger at the hands of predators.

People who have to use the internet for educational uses will have to go through stupid, unneeded steps just to look up the purpose of the mitochondria!

Trans and Queer youth are in danger. Fandom spaces are in danger. Children, the very group of people that this bullshit bill is claiming to protect, are in DANGER!

The States having full monopoly over the internet is so, so ungodly stupid and dystopian. I can’t imagine being someone not from the States and having to witness all of this.

The bill doesn’t protect kids, it only puts them in more danger.

CALL YOUR REPS! SIGN PETITIONS! KEEP KOSA TRENDING! LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING!

THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR ALL OF US! NOT JUST A SELECTIVE!

SIMILAR BILLS HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE AND BEEN STOPPED THANKS TO THE INTERNET! LET’S DO THAT AGAIN!

STOP KOSA!

[incognitopolls]

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[jaegerisim]

ATTENTION TO AO3 WRITERS! IF U RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE OR SIMILAR DO NOT CLICK!!! IT'S PROBABLY A SCAM TO HACK UR DISCORD ACC

You can probably know by how the ACC is deleted, the username and the <<" ">> they used.

REBLOG TO SPREAD!

[gen-z-superheroes]

"Stopncii.org is a free tool designed to support victims of Non-Consensual Intimate Image (NCII) abuse."

"Revenge Porn Helpline is a UK service supporting adults (aged 18+) who are experiencing intimate image abuse, also known as, revenge porn."

"Take It Down (ncmec.org) is for people who have images or videos of themselves nude, partially nude, or in sexually explicit situations taken when they were under the age of 18 that they believe have been or will be shared online."

[frameacloud]

(The image descriptions are in the alt text.)

These are two slides from a presentation that I did together with my partner @who-is-page: "You Are Not A Museum Piece: Putting Yourself Out There In The Alterhuman Community." You can watch the whole presentation on Youtube here.

You can make informed decisions about your privacy on the internet, and pick and choose to make it just right for your own personal needs. It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. A risk that's acceptable for one person may be too big for another person. These lists are based on sources such as the book The Smart Girl’s Guide to Privacy: Practical Tips for Staying Safe Online, by Violet Blue. We recommend reading it to learn more.

[hashtagloveloses]

hey if you have an iphone apple turned on a very scary feature that allows people near you to detect you using that stupid ass apple journal app. TURN IT OFF

settings>journal>journaling suggestions>suggestion privacy settings>switch DISCOVERABLE BY OTHERS Off

[beggars-opera]

Hey, can we move our advice about kids on the internet into the 21st century please?

I 100% agree that we should all be as private as humanly possible online, but I also know that I do not follow my own advice, nor does anyone else, including you, probably. Yes, many of us were raised in a time in which the internet could be completely anonymous, but that was in the era before social media. Facebook, Instagram, etc. started as tools to interact with people already in your social circle, which is why personal information is used on them, but they've evolved since then for better or worse, and we need to acknowledge that. Simply telling teenagers that they have to operate under an avatar at all times like we're on a 2002 message board and that they are brainwashed idiots if they don't isn't helping anyone.

If I was giving someone real life advice, it would be this:

If you are a minor, know that there are predators out there who are more than willing to interact with you, so honestly, sincerely, do consider being as anonymous as possible. That means not using your full, or even your real name (this is the perfect time to use the name you always wished you had, mine was Morgan after Morgan le Fay), and putting things on private as much as possible so only people you know, or those you can vet, can interact with you.

If you do choose to show your face, know that this comes with risk and buffering that with other things (like using a pseudonym or never tagging your exact location). This can go a long way to protecting yourself. If you're just posting aesthetic images, sure, make your IG public, but if you're documenting your every move maybe stick with friends only for now.

Even if you are not a minor, creeps will still find you. Again, assumption of risk. Either way, though, the block feature is your friend.

If you're being open online because you're really dead set on being an influencer, know that is going to come with a whole world of pain all its own assuming it actually pans out, so it's probably not worth it. Also you probably won't make it as an influencer, hon, I'm so sorry but statistically it's true.

If you're posting certain things traceable to you this could also bite you later at work, or for prospective employers.

When interacting with strangers online, always assume that people are hiding SOMETHING. That isn't always a malicious thing - they could also be protecting themselves! But don't take everything they say at face value. Online personas are always acting of a sort.

If you find yourself becoming friendly enough with someone that you want to meet them in person, take stock of how much you know about them. Do they post photos of themselves frequently enough that you can tell they are who they say they are? Are they willing to video chat with you before meeting irl? Are they willing to meet with you in a neutral, public location or with a group of friends, or do they act sketchy about that?

To the above point, meet people for the first time in a neutral, public location, preferably with a group of friends, just in case. Look, I've broken this rule myself and even though nothing happened, I still kick myself for it.

Trust your gut. You are the creator and the curator of your own online existence, so do what makes you feel safe.

[eddo-tensei]

Fighting to continue the era where online communities are free

I understand that some of you are waiting for me to update some fanfics. However, I've been embroiled in what could only be described as a fight for the internet to stay open. For those who aren't aware, there are various bad bills surrounding the internet that are either in committee or on their way to the Senate Floor. They all share one thing in common: overly broad provisions that could lead to mass censorship of various things online and a complete chilling of free expression, especially if you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or other marginalized groups. I've already spoken about these bills on this blog and the fact there are talks of a possible package being made is continuing this discussion. Thankfully, I'm not alone in this fight. EFF, Fight for The Future, and the ACLU are all fighting against the bills and starting Thursday, will bring out a mass protest. That said, the protest can only get big if you guys come in. That's why I'm making this post.

These are blog posts made by two of the organizations I mentioned. They both hold petitions for you to sign in order to oppose these bills, but the latter site made by Fight For The Future allows you to actually call your lawmakers so you could tell them to oppose these bills. They give you scripts and everything. The deadline given by the organizations is July 28th, which is when the Senate is supposed to go into recess. If we can prevent any of these bills from going through before that, we can consider it a mission accomplished. If you need more info on some of these bills, let me provide you with some Linktrees.

I know it feels like I'm asking a lot from you guys, but I hope you can do what you can and spread this around. We're facing a massive wave of bad news and we've seen a glimpse of what could happen thanks to the DDOS of AO3, but we cannot let ourselves be toppled over by them. We have to push back and ensure a better future for ourselves, the people around us, and the children who deserve to gain a free voice in the future.

[oysterdelite]

Hey just want to remind everyone that it’s okay to be nervous in kink spaces. Especially when you’re new. It’s okay to be skeptical. It’s okay to be vigilant. It’s okay to be a lurker until you feel more comfortable.

Keeping yourself safe is top priority! You don’t owe anyone anything about yourself!!

Online safety is so important and isn’t being taught as much these days for reasons I can’t fathom!

If someone makes you uncomfortable, it’s okay to just block them!

If you feel weird, take yourself out of a situation!

You’re not bad for having bodily autonomy and using it to keep yourself safe!!

(This is a shoutout to all the lurkers on my page, I love you, I respect you, I hope this is a safe place for you!)

[littleesister]

dear minors on tumblr

hello everyone and welcome to another rant about internet safety and boundaries.

Since I’ve gotten many messages from minors because I’m one of the few blogs in this community that allow them. It’s my responsibility as a 20 year old interacting with teens and kids to give tips for when they interact with adults.

age: Never ever lie about your age, it puts both parties in danger. It’s important they know your age so they can adapt to your age group.

If an adult ever lies about their age don’t contact them again, and that’s period.

lying or misleading about age is not only dangerous but also illegal. So you can avoid many dangers if you’re honest.

Jokes:

as a minor you can joke about whatever you want but remember if an adult engages in sexual jokes with you even if your the one what started them. It’s a red flag, an adult has no business talking sex or sexuality with a minor.

Even if it’s a joke it still shows a lot about the person if they make resist, ableist, discriminating and disrespectful jokes or comments. If they always and can only use dark humor to be funny and nothing else. It’s a red flag as well.

questions:

Don’t ever give them your phone number, full name, address. Don’t ever send pictures of yourself, your house, school or things that can identify you. Even if it’s a picture of your tummy or you in your school uniform. It’s a red flag if someone ever asks you about anything this personal.

General:

don’t answer to personal questions

set boundaries about what you can talk about

tell your parents and friends who you interact with online

take a few breaks and reflect on how they make you feel

if they ever lie about something, personality, interests, hobbies to connect more with you it’s a red flag

and finally my dear kids before I let you go,

a no is a complete sentence

a block is an answer

speaking up is very brave

setting boundaries are mature

and finally you don’t need to grow up faster, enjoy your 18 years of childhood and teenage fun

[prokopetz]

The whole “you must publicly disclose every emotional vulnerability you’ve ever had and every trauma you’ve ever experienced as a minimum buy-in for participating in social life” thing kind of makes sense on platforms that want to strongly link your online identity with your real identity, in a horrible, surveillance-culture-poisoned, mutually-assured-destruction sort of way, but it’s just plain senseless on deliberately anonymised platforms like Tumblr. When lying about yourself is trivial and maintaining multiple disconnected identities – including disposable “burner” identities – is both easy and encouraged, going full disclosure is painting a target on your back for no reason. Literally anybody who’s so inclined can use that stuff against you without exposing themselves at all.

[aronarchy]

[incognitopolls]

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[myfandomrealitea]

“Proshippers are dangerous to children!”

Me, reading “immoral” books since age 11, 16 now, yet to have killed, raped, or tortured anyone:

Children are not put in danger simply by exposure to specific things. In fact, for many things, the sooner we learn them the better. I know a lot of people are going to interpret this in bad faith and the worst possible way, but;

Children actually need to be exposed to things in order to actually understand them and properly learn about them in a safe manner that will set the groundwork for the rest of their life.

I'll use an example that has absolutely nothing to do with sex or anything 'proship.'

The good old 'the dog went to live on a farm' analogy. When I was younger and my pets died my parents always told me that my pets had gone to live with other families who needed hem more. That pets were like Nanny McPhee; they went where they were needed.

This devastated me.

I spent years wondering what I'd done wrong. Why I wasn't good enough. Why my beloved pets had decided I didn't need or love them anymore. Where had they gone? Why had they gone? Did they love their new families more than me?

Literal years spent plagued with torment until I hit a new school year and we learned properly about death in biology. Then I spent weeks feeling betrayed, ridiculed and stupid because my pets hadn't abandoned me for a more deserving family. They'd up and died.

And death is sad, yes. I would've been sad for weeks. Months, maybe. I'd miss them forever. But I understood death. I would've understood and accepted death far quicker than I did the notion that the pets I loved so much had simply up and decided to fuck off one day.

If my parents had been honest with me they could've used my pets' deaths as opportunities for literally so many things. How to understand and deal with grief. How to understand and accept death. How to mourn. How to reminisce. How to manage and process and understand and accept my emotions. How to ask for comfort and self-soothe.

Instead all they taught me was that they thought I was too stupid to understand things and that I could've trust a word they said anymore.

Honestly the overbearing safety net we trap children in only robs them of opportunities to be healthy, functioning, developed adults. Children do not need to be sheltered from the entire world until we suddenly drop-kick them into it at 16 or 18.

I'm not saying we need to start hounding eight year olds about pornography and fictional shipping. But what we do need to do is safely introduce them to the world they live in and give them the tools needed to live in it.

[eugenephosgene]

Okay okay here's the rant

Do not post your identifing information online- profile pictures, names, email ids, phone numbers, aadhar cards okay okay that's it but you get it right? Do not post them unless you're really really sure you want that information out there. I have some mutuals who have their faces as their pfps so it's not like you don't have to do it. You should just know the consequences of posting that information online. Especially if you're minor and in some cases even a girl.

Do not tell them your age, i don't need to know you're 15 year old. Maybe i can guess from your rants about school or college or work but that's a secondary thought. You should not post your age so carelessly on your front page, it just makes you a better target. Again, especially if you're a minor.

And this is going to be general because we don't have live location feature on tumblr thank god. Never share your pictures from a place you're at while you're still at that place. Mostly applies to vacations and outings. Post those pictures after you've left that place and similarly NEVER tag in your location while you're there.

Do not overshare facts and identifyable details about you to strangers. No need to give them your insta id or anything like that. Ik you may want to share it after you've known them for quiet a long while and you're very sure of their identity buy please take it slow and don't trust people easily because there is no undo button here.

Never paste your trigger warnings. Those things are between you, god and your non existent therapist.

There are so many other things that I'll add later on but in short, the most simple rule is this.

Before posting anything identifiable online, imagine there is a person sitting on the other end that wants to harm you. Now decide on if what you're posting is going to make it easier for him to track you/harm you or not.

[hellyeahscarleteen]

"The kids are all right: The bill is not a solution to the problems of social media, and in fact, will make the internet much worse for young people. If you’re a young person unsure of where to stand on the bill, here’s a short explainer. 

KOSA’s main goal—to limit access to harmful materials—is unworkable and will lead to censorship. The vague “duty of care” to prevent harms to minors will require overly broad content filtering. We know already that this sort of filtering fails, both at the platform and the user level. Platforms are notoriously bad at content moderation at scale, frequently allowing content that violates their terms of service while penalizing users who post benign content that’s misidentified as dangerous. 

Under KOSA, this sort of flawed moderation will come with legal force. Platforms will be pressured by state attorneys general seeking to make political points about what kind of information is appropriate for young people. So not only will the moderation be inaccurate, but it will sweep in a variety of content that is not harmful. Ultimately, this bill would cut off a vital avenue of access to information for vulnerable youth. Platforms will be required to block important educational content, often made by young people themselves, about how to deal with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance use disorders, physical violence, online bullying and harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, and suicidal thoughts. 

Lastly, KOSA would have the practical effect of enabling parental surveillance. The law would unreasonably bucket all people under seventeen into a single category, despite the widespread understanding that older minors should have greater autonomy, privacy, and access to information than younger children, and that not every parent-child dynamic is healthy or constructive. 

Since KOSA was first introduced, it’s become even clearer that online platforms impact young people of varying ages and backgrounds differently, and one-size-fits-all legislation is a bad approach to solving the ills of social media. In March, the American Psychological Association (APA) released a “health advisory” on social media use in adolescence that makes clear that “using social media is not inherently beneficial or harmful to young people.” Rather, the effects of social media depend on multiple factors—in particular, “teens’ preexisting strengths or vulnerabilities, and the contexts in which they grow up.” 

KOSA has laudable goals, but it also presents significant unintended consequences that threaten the privacy, safety, and access to information rights of young people and adults alike. Teenagers already understand that this sweeping legislation is more about censorship than safety. Now we just need to make sure Congress does, as well."