Thread Academy

Being Kind Online

Practise friendly, respectful messages and learn what to do if someone is unkind.

  • Define and explain Being Kind Online in your own words
  • Use key terms such as digital footprint accurately
  • Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
  • Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic

This lesson focuses on Being Kind Online: practise friendly, respectful messages and learn what to do if someone is unkind.

Definition: Being Kind Online

Practise friendly, respectful messages and learn what to do if someone is unkind.

Key ideas

Think before you share

Ask yourself: would I be happy if this photo or message was shown to my whole school? Personal information — your address, school name or location — should never be posted publicly, because you cannot control who sees it or saves it.

Stop, block and tell

If a message upsets you, a stranger asks for personal details, or something feels wrong, stop replying, block the person and tell a trusted adult straight away. You will never be in trouble for reporting something that worries you — telling is always the brave choice.

Key term — digital footprint: The trail of posts, photos and messages you leave behind online. Once something is posted, it can be very hard to remove.

Worked example: Being Kind Online

Why should you log out of accounts on a shared school computer?

Anyone using the computer next could read your messages or pretend to be you, so always log out.

Answer: Anyone using the computer next could read your messages or pretend to be you, so always log out.

Common mistakes
  • Sharing a password with a friend Correction: keep every password secret, even from friends — friendships change, but a shared password stays shared.
  • Posting photos in school uniform with the school name visible Correction: check photos for clues like badges and street signs before posting, and keep accounts private.

Practice

Your friend posts an embarrassing photo of you without asking. What is the kind thing to do if the roles were reversed?
Think about permission.

Ask permission before posting photos of other people, and remove a photo straight away if the person in it asks you to.

A message says 'Click here to claim your free tablet!' What should you do?
Do unexpected prizes arrive by message?

Do not click — it is almost certainly a trick to steal details or install something nasty. Delete it and tell an adult.

Which password is strongest: 'fred', 'fred2001', or 'cloud-drum-apple'?
Longer and more random beats short and personal.

'cloud-drum-apple' — it is long, random and gives no clues about its owner.

A player you met in a game asks which school you go to. What should you do?
Remember what counts as personal information.

Do not answer — your school is personal information. Stop chatting and tell a trusted adult.

Quick check

Being Kind Online — quick check

Which of these best defines "digital footprint"?

The trail of posts, photos and messages you leave behind online. Once something is posted, it can be very hard to remove.

True or false: deleting a photo from your phone removes it from the internet.

False — if the photo was posted or sent, other people may already have saved or shared it.
Key takeaways
  • Being Kind Online: practise friendly, respectful messages and learn what to do if someone is unkind.
  • Think before you share: Ask yourself: would I be happy if this photo or message was shown to my whole school? Personal information — your address, school name or location — should never be posted publicly, because you cannot control who sees it or saves it.
  • stranger: Online, a stranger is anyone you have not met in real life — even if they seem friendly in a game or chat.
  • Watch out for: sharing a password with a friend
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