Sometimes it’s fun to meet people you’ve met online through social networking, but it’s also scary. The Internet is full of people who don’t always have the best of intentions. Here are some tips to keep you safe when you meet a person you’ve only met online.

Be Careful with Your Information

Don’t give anyone your full name, address, the name of your school, or your friend’s names. If you give out that information you could be giving an online predator the information they need to track you down. Even if the person seems really nice, keep your personal information private until you know them a lot better.

Do Your Research

Before you agree to meet anyone that you’ve only met online you should do some detective work. Google the person and check out their social networks. Try to find as much information about them as you can. You’re not being creepy. You’re protecting your own personal safety.

Do You Want to Meet with Them?

Although not everyone online is out to get you, there are a lot of predators who hide behind keyboards. Always trust your gut instincts. If something is making you feel uncomfortable or like you shouldn’t meet with them, then don’t.

Where Should We Meet?

If you agree to meet with someone you’ve only met online, do not give them your address, or agree to meet at their house. Instead, you should meet in a crowded public place in the daytime. Make sure it’s not too crowded though. If something goes wrong, you want people to notice.

Have your parents or your friends take you to the location, wait nearby, and pick you up afterward. If you’re meeting in a restaurant, they could even sit at another table nearby. Whatever you do, do not leave the location or go off alone with the person you’re meeting, no matter how nice they seem or how comfortable you are.

If No One Can Take You to the Location

If no one can take you to the location and you still want to meet with the person, make sure you tell someone where you are going. Tell them that you are meeting someone that you met online and let them know as many details about the person as possible. Let them know where you’re meeting them and what time you expect to get home.

Don’t let the person you’re meeting pick you up to take you to the meeting location, even if it’s a long walk. Take a cab instead. Once you get to the location, don’t leave with the person. Even if they ask you, don’t get in a car with them, and do not let them give you a ride home.