Jessica's Story
The “Reel” Story: Webcams
- As Jessica found, webcams are not always harmless. What may seem like simple fun at first can become dangerous if you don’t protect your privacy. The most important thing to remember is that whatever you send over the Internet can potentially be seen by anyone.
- Even if you send images to a friend or boy/girl-friend, you can’t control who they will show the images to. Or someone else could hack into the files and send them around. Teenagers have been blackmailed with video or photos they sent to someone they trusted.
- Be twice as cautious about using a webcam in front of people you only know through the Internet. Sexual predators search for children and teens willing to model sexy clothes or act out scenarios in front of a live video camera. Don’t believe people when they claim that it's just a way to get a start in modeling or show business. You should also know that live videos can be captured and saved for later viewing, posted to a website or copied to a CD and sold.
- This doesn’t mean you should never use a webcam, but make sure that you avoid putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation. Here are some tips when dealing with webcams:
- Even if you send images to a friend or boy/girl-friend, you can’t control who they will show the images to. Or someone else could hack into the files and send them around. Teenagers have been blackmailed with video or photos they sent to someone they trusted.
- Be twice as cautious about using a webcam in front of people you only know through the Internet. Sexual predators search for children and teens willing to model sexy clothes or act out scenarios in front of a live video camera. Don’t believe people when they claim that it's just a way to get a start in modeling or show business. You should also know that live videos can be captured and saved for later viewing, posted to a website or copied to a CD and sold.
- This doesn’t mean you should never use a webcam, but make sure that you avoid putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation. Here are some tips when dealing with webcams:
• If you do share photos or video of yourself, be aware that anything you broadcast can never be taken back. Once it’s out there, it’s available for the whole world – including your parents – to see.
• If you use a webcam, be sure that you actually unplug the webcam when you’re not using it. Even if you just turn it off, it could still be manipulated remotely and used to film you without your knowledge.
• Don’t use a webcam when you visit chatrooms or with instant messaging. As mentioned earlier, live video can be captured by other participants, which means you lose control over where your image ends up.
• If you have video files on your computer, don’t download file sharing software on your computer. Other users may be able to capture those files.
• And last but not least, don’t let other people – including your friends – convince you to do something you’re uncomfortable with. They’re not the ones who have to deal with the consequences.
• If you use a webcam, be sure that you actually unplug the webcam when you’re not using it. Even if you just turn it off, it could still be manipulated remotely and used to film you without your knowledge.
• Don’t use a webcam when you visit chatrooms or with instant messaging. As mentioned earlier, live video can be captured by other participants, which means you lose control over where your image ends up.
• If you have video files on your computer, don’t download file sharing software on your computer. Other users may be able to capture those files.
• And last but not least, don’t let other people – including your friends – convince you to do something you’re uncomfortable with. They’re not the ones who have to deal with the consequences.
