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The web is a fantastic technology that brings people together all over the world - breaking down all sorts of barriers of time and geography.
Using forums on the internet is a great way to exchange ideas and to get problems solved by discussion with experts and fellow swimmers around the world - including some of the world's top swimmers.
This power is, sadly, misused by some individuals for criminal purposes that can put you at severe personal risk, if you are not careful.
But if you take sensible precautions to keep your identity and age secret, you will find a rich source of help out there.
SAFETY in forums: The information that you put into most forums is watched by moderators. If you put anything obscene or inappropriate on the site your message will be removed and you will be blocked. If you take part in any illegal activity you will be reported to the appropriate authority and, believe me, it's easy to track people down!
The rules for safe forums are:
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register using an alias and never, ever use your real name |
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never reveal your personal information: name, age, address, phone number, email address etc. There are really horrific true stories of people misusing personal information, or being bombarded with obscene emails - just don't give your information to strangers. |
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if you receive or see unpleasant messages or are asked to meet someone you've chatted to on a forum, tell your parents - ignoring it could put someone else at risk. |
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if in any doubt at all about the other participants in a forum, simply stop using it. |
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if, as a parent, you suspect a serious threat, then the police need to be called in to investigate |