Leaving the House and Risks as A Teenager
Teens love to socialize with friends. They text and e-mail each other, but above all, they relish hanging out with each other. However, many teens aren't aware of the risks they face going out alone with their friends. There is no adult supervision, and in a world as big and scary as this, there are many dangers. Abductions happen often, there are pickpockets on the street, drug dealers. Does this sound like a safe world to you? We would guess probably not. Here are some facts about what teens face in the outside world and how to prevent themselves from getting into troubling situations:
- Self defence is great to learn. You don't necessarily have to take karate lessons, but it is valuable to know what to do in what situation. Try to visualize this: a woman is walking and when she turns the corner of a building, she feels someone grab her arm. She turns around and hits him with her bag. He lets go and she runs away. This scene is realistic enough, and it happens often. You've probably seen somewhere a movie clip or heard of stories of women hitting people with their bags and run for their lives. It may sound silly, but this is a form of self defence. If someone tries to grab you, don't be afraid to kick and yell. It may also help to stay in busy areas rather than dark, isolated streets so that if anything happens, people can easily hear you. In addition, it may also help to trust your instincts. If you see a suspicious looking guy, try to stay as far away as possible. If you see someone staring directly at you with an eerie expression, let someone you trust know. However, if someone tries to take a hold of you, don't hold your breath. Tell them "no," or "back off!" Never be afraid to use self defence.
- Wear light colours when it's dark out. People, especially drivers, can't see you at night if you are wearing dark clothes. Always wear bright colours if you are planning to go out at night and pay attention to drivers. They may or may not see you.
- Hang out in large groups. When going out with friends, it is best to go out in large groups, or at least not alone. It is much safer to be with many people rather than alone in couples.
-Online safety is also important. While not many people are aware of this, a lot happens on the internet. Luckily, we can prevent online dangers like cyberbullying (see below) or having our identification stolen with a few easy tricks. Firstly, you should never post any real information on the internet for public to see. This includes your full name, birth date, photo of yourself, phone number, address/where you live, passwords, or any card numbers. Secondly, don't chat with strangers online. This is a main cause of child abductions because kids like to chat online with people who may seem like kids. You never know who people really are online, therefore it's best to stay away from people, and most importantly never meet with anyone you meet online. Thirdly, we highly recommend not using online dating sites. People can put fake identifications and can abduct you when you go to meet. Overall, there are many potential dangers online, though if we acknowledge these few facts, we can browse safely on the internet.
- Cyberbullying is popular on the internet. Firstly, what is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is bullying online. Examples of cyberbullying include sending negative messages to others, ridiculing others, hacking into someone else's e-mail account(s) and sending hurtful messages to others under another's name, posting inappropriate images of others, et cetera. If you witness cyberbullying, report it immediately. However, it is always a good choice to start with prevention. Try to avoid contact with others online and never post any personal information.
- Self defence is great to learn. You don't necessarily have to take karate lessons, but it is valuable to know what to do in what situation. Try to visualize this: a woman is walking and when she turns the corner of a building, she feels someone grab her arm. She turns around and hits him with her bag. He lets go and she runs away. This scene is realistic enough, and it happens often. You've probably seen somewhere a movie clip or heard of stories of women hitting people with their bags and run for their lives. It may sound silly, but this is a form of self defence. If someone tries to grab you, don't be afraid to kick and yell. It may also help to stay in busy areas rather than dark, isolated streets so that if anything happens, people can easily hear you. In addition, it may also help to trust your instincts. If you see a suspicious looking guy, try to stay as far away as possible. If you see someone staring directly at you with an eerie expression, let someone you trust know. However, if someone tries to take a hold of you, don't hold your breath. Tell them "no," or "back off!" Never be afraid to use self defence.
- Wear light colours when it's dark out. People, especially drivers, can't see you at night if you are wearing dark clothes. Always wear bright colours if you are planning to go out at night and pay attention to drivers. They may or may not see you.
- Hang out in large groups. When going out with friends, it is best to go out in large groups, or at least not alone. It is much safer to be with many people rather than alone in couples.
-Online safety is also important. While not many people are aware of this, a lot happens on the internet. Luckily, we can prevent online dangers like cyberbullying (see below) or having our identification stolen with a few easy tricks. Firstly, you should never post any real information on the internet for public to see. This includes your full name, birth date, photo of yourself, phone number, address/where you live, passwords, or any card numbers. Secondly, don't chat with strangers online. This is a main cause of child abductions because kids like to chat online with people who may seem like kids. You never know who people really are online, therefore it's best to stay away from people, and most importantly never meet with anyone you meet online. Thirdly, we highly recommend not using online dating sites. People can put fake identifications and can abduct you when you go to meet. Overall, there are many potential dangers online, though if we acknowledge these few facts, we can browse safely on the internet.
- Cyberbullying is popular on the internet. Firstly, what is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is bullying online. Examples of cyberbullying include sending negative messages to others, ridiculing others, hacking into someone else's e-mail account(s) and sending hurtful messages to others under another's name, posting inappropriate images of others, et cetera. If you witness cyberbullying, report it immediately. However, it is always a good choice to start with prevention. Try to avoid contact with others online and never post any personal information.