Online Safety Guide
The internet is an incredible tool for learning, creating, and connecting, but it comes with real risks. This guide teaches you how to recognise threats like scams, phishing, deepfakes, and privacy invasions, and gives you practical skills to protect yourself every day.
Developed with input from cybersecurity educators and aligned with the UK Computing Curriculum and ISTE Digital Citizenship standards.
Your Safety Learning Path
Each topic builds your understanding of a specific online threat. Work through them all to become a confident, safety-aware digital citizen.
The Golden Rules of Online Safety
Print these out, stick them near your computer, and make them second nature. These simple habits can prevent the majority of online threats.
DO: Smart Habits to Build
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Tell a trusted adult immediately if something online makes you uncomfortable, scared, or confused
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Think before you share and ask yourself: "Would I be comfortable showing this to my teacher or grandparent?"
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Use strong, unique passwords by creating a different passphrase (e.g., "MyDog&Loves2Run!") for each account
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Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts that offer it for an extra layer of security
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Verify before trusting by checking information from multiple reliable sources before believing or sharing
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Review app permissions regularly and remove access for apps you no longer use
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Keep software updated because updates often fix security vulnerabilities that hackers exploit
DON'T: Risks to Avoid
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Share personal details like your location, school name, full address, or daily routine online
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Give your password to anyone other than your parents, not even your best friend
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Meet in person with anyone you've only met online, even if they seem friendly and trustworthy
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Click suspicious links in emails, messages, or pop-ups, even if they look official or urgent
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Share photos or videos that could embarrass you later, because once it's online, it's out of your control
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Blindly trust AI because chatbots and AI tools can make mistakes, "hallucinate" facts, or be manipulated
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Download unknown files or apps from unofficial sources, as they may contain malware or spyware
The STOP Method
When something online feels wrong, suspicious, or uncomfortable, pause. Use this four-step framework to protect yourself in any digital situation. It works for scam messages, stranger requests, uncomfortable content, and more.
Click each letter below to reveal real-world examples and actionable advice.
Stop
Pause before reacting. Don't click, reply, or respond right away. Take a breath.
Think
Analyse the situation. Does this seem real? Does something feel off?
Others
Involve a trusted adult: a parent, teacher, counsellor, or older sibling.
Protect
Take action: block, report, delete, or leave. Protect yourself and warn others.
AI-Powered Threats You Need to Know
Artificial intelligence makes online threats smarter and harder to detect. Click each card to flip it and learn how to protect yourself against each specific threat.
The Common Thread
All these threats rely on the same trick: making you act before you think. Whether it's a deepfake video, a phishing email, or a cloned voice call, they all use urgency, emotion, or trust to bypass your critical thinking. The STOP method above is your best defence against every single one.
How Safe Are You Online?
Answer these 5 scenario-based questions to test your online safety awareness. See how well you can spot the right action in tricky situations.
1 You receive a message saying you've won a prize you never entered. What do you do?
2 A stranger online asks for your school name. You should:
3 The best password strategy is:
4 A realistic video shows your favourite celebrity promoting a product. You should:
5 If something online makes you uncomfortable, the first thing to do is:
Ready to Become a Digital Safety Expert?
You've learned the fundamentals. Now dive deeper into each topic to build real-world skills that protect you, your friends, and your family online.
Need Help? You're Not Alone
If you or someone you know is dealing with an online safety issue, whether it's cyberbullying, a scam, or something that made you uncomfortable, these resources are here to help.
Kuwait Emergency
112
Police · Fire · Ambulance
24/7 AvailableCybercrime Reporting
Ministry of Interior
Report online crimes, fraud, harassment, or hacking
Official ChannelTalk to Someone You Trust
Trusted Adult
Parent, guardian, teacher, family member, or counsellor
Always the Right ChoiceSchool Support
School Counsellor
Trained to help with online issues, bullying, and mental health
During School HoursRemember: It's Never Your Fault
If something online made you scared, uncomfortable, or upset, it is not your fault. No matter what happened, you did not cause it. Telling a trusted adult is always the right thing to do, and they will never judge you for asking for help.
Many online problems can be resolved quickly when young people and adults work together. You are brave for speaking up, and there are people who care about you and want to help.