GENERAL SAFETY TIPS - You must always consider...
LordsMessage.com is a public forum and social networking website where you are always encouraged to be a part of the community, express yourself, network and share your personal stories of inspiration and testimonies of God in your life. Although LordsMessage.com was created as a safe Christian alternative to some other social networking websites you can never be sure who you are talking to. With this in mind we encourage you to read the following common sense guidelines when participating in LordsMessage.com.
1. LordsMessage.com is a social networking website and public forum.
This means that you never know who is looking at your profile, reading your journals, blogs, iPrayer and stories, or looking at your pictures. Therefore, any materials you don't want people to see or read simply do not put on your profile. In particular, never post your address, phone number, specifics about your location, bank details, IM screen names etc. We strongly recommend that you do not post anything that would allow a stranger to figure out where you are such as pictures of you in front of your work or your school or college. DO NOT POST ANYTHING THAT YOU DO NOT WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT!
2. Incriminating or embarrassing material.
For the same reason as above so not post anything that is likely to cause you embarrassment or incriminate you in any way. Anything you wish to remain personal do not post for the world to see.
3. Do NOT be lured into compromising or uncomfortable conversation.
If you do not physically know and trust the person you are chatting with on LordsMessage.com in the real world, do not be trapped or tricked into giving out your personal details or personal details about other people such as friends or family. We do not wish to create a state of paranoia but discretion is better.
4. Report all harassment or inappropriate behavior.
Throughout LordsMessage.com we've provided “Report Me” links to report any persons or content that is inappropriate, rude, lured or hatred or racist. If there is not a link available please copy the page URL and make notes on the offense, the person responsible and use our Contact Us page to report it.
5. People aren't always who they say they are.
Even though this is a website with Christian values and belief's there is never any guarantee that the people using it share those same belief's or values. With regard to this always be mindful that people you add to your friends list might not be who they say they are. Be extremely careful about meeting anyone in person. If you should wish to meet someone in person please always arrange to take a friend or trusted adult with you. Always meet in a public place with lots of other people around, and if a friend or trusted adult cannot fit in change your meeting time so that someone can go with you. It is not worth taking the risk no matter how genuine the person you are meeting might sound over the internet - even if you've seen them on video chat.
6. Do not tell lies about your age.
Do not say you're over 18 if you're really under 18 and same goes if you’re over 18 do not say you're under 18. If LordsMessage.com determines that you have lied about your age your profile will be deleted and your access banned. If Lordsmessage.com suspects that you are over 18 and have stated that you're under 18 in order to contact other underage members we would responsibly refer the matter onto the relative authorities and cooperate in any way requested by those authorities in dealing with the matter.
LordsMessage.com carefully monitors as best we can the content posted by members onto the profile pages and forums. While we can never be certain that all content is safe and of a respectable nature according to our Terms and Conditions we do rely on the public to report what we may miss. For this reason we do allow Teenagers from 13 years of age to use and enjoy networking on Lords Message.com.
If you are under 13 years of age and have stated that ion fact you are 13 years of age or older you are in breach of our terms of service and your profile will be deleted immediately.
LordsMessage.com reserves the rights to take further action on any incidents related to any of the above if we feel that it is in the best and safest interests of our members and the public.
SAFETY TIPS FOR ADULTS
Remember that the “Internet World” is exactly the same as the “Real World” with regard to safety. You should afford the same trust to strangers on social networking websites including LordsMessage.com as you would in the real world. This section is mostly about your children
1. Read the 6 GENERAL SAFETY TIPS above.
2. Keep a check on your children’s activity.
We understand that this sounds intrusive or untrusting however we want you to do it because you love them not because you do not trust them. It's not your children you do not trust it's the unknown people that might be chatting with them you do not trust. As a general rule you should allow internet access to children in a room n the house where parents are most frequently occupying such as the kitchen and lounge room.
3. Talk to your children about who they're chatting with and the problems and dangers on the internet.
We're not saying that your child is in any specific danger but awareness is the best preventative. Talk openly about some of the dangers they face talking with strangers on the internet. Go through all of the safety tips with them.
SAFETY TIPS FOR TEENAGERS
As with all worldwide social networking websites LordsMessage.com has a very high percentage of users that are between the age of 13 and 18. Just remember that the internet world is no different from the real world. You still have to be careful about who you talk to and what information you make available. In some respects the internet world allows bad people to hide themselves easier. Using common sense can minimize your exposure to risk.
Here at LordsMessage.com whether you're 13 or 103 we take your safety very seriously.
1. Read the 6 GENERAL SAFETY TIPS above.
2. Don't post anything that you don’t want anybody else to download.
Anything that you post can be downloaded by anyone else who has access.
3. Set your privacy settings on private
4. We recommend only adding people you know in real life as your profile friends.
However, if you're going to be adding strangers make sure that you keep your personal details, contact and location details off your profile and do not post them to blogs, journals etc. If a “Friend” wants to know where you live, go to school, church or work - don't tell them.
5. Report any inappropriate comments, questions, harassment, unwanted advances, or unwelcome behavior to LordsMessage.com and your parents, teacher or Pastor!
We want to hear about this type of behavior so we can act appropriately. We also encourage you to alert a trusted adult that you know.
PRIVACY SETTINGS
There are a number of settings available to you in your “Edit Profile” and “Settings” tabs when you're logged in to LordsMessage.com. You can set your entire profile to Private which means that only friends can view your profile, bio, pictures, journals etc. You can also choose which features on your profile page to allow no one, Friends only or everyone to view. |
