Internet Safety

The internet is really useful for getting information, news and support – pretty much anything you need to know is available. You may also be using chat rooms to catch up with your mates and to chat to other gay men.

But the internet, like any other social place can hold risks. Be careful about how much you say about yourself. How well do you really know the person you’re chatting to?

The internet can be used for great things from finding out information about what’s going on in your local area to chatting with people from all over the world. The internet can also be used negatively. Junk email from certain sites can flood your inbox, and some of the information may be explicit and not something you want others to see.

There are many sites out there specifically for gay men to chat to each other. Some of these sites are perfectly innocent and give gay men who might be isolated the opportunity to get advice and support. Some of the sites are specifically for gay men to meet each other for sex. There is nothing wrong with this but it is important to ensure that you are safe. Here are some tips on how to look after yourself:

• Do not give out personal information – do you really know who you are chatting to? Why should you give someone your phone number or address? Why would they want it?
• If you do not feel comfortable with a chat, or the person is using explicit language that you don’t want to hear, end the conversation. On certain sites it is possible to block people from knowing when you are online.
• Use a pseudonym – if you put your full name on the internet it is easier for people to get hold of information about you. Use a nickname or a password that only you know.
• Meeting people – If you do arrange to meet a guy you have been chatting to, arrange the meeting in a public place. Choose somewhere others will be around like a city centre or shopping centre. If you do not feel comfortable it will be easier to get out of the situation.