Twitter is popular with everyone but due to the very open nature of Twitter younger users should take extra caution. Remember everything you post to Twitter with an open profile can be seen by anyone in the world and is very easy to search for.

We suggest you put your Twitter profile into PRIVATE mode as this will stop the world seeing your updates.

Login at Twitter.com and go to SETTINGS. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Protect my tweets". Click save.

If you would like someone to see your update you will have to FOLLOW each other, if another Twitter user follows you they can't see your updates until you follow back. This gives you control over who gets to see what you are up to.

Twitter is the hottest social network around, used by many celebrities to keep in touch with fans and by citizens all over the world to break news stories or just say what they are up to at any given moment.

While Twitter has been great at helping people communicate quickly and in a very open manner, it's not without its problems. Always follow the usual rules of cyber safety and in addition here are some Twitter specific safety tips.

Twitter Safety Tips

• Never give out your real address, or any personal details - Remember on Twitter everything you say can be open to the world;
• Never give out your password - Also be extra careful when you sign into Twitter through other websites. (Some are scams trying to find out your log-in details!);
• Think before you Tweet! -  Anyone can see what you say unless you make your profile private;
• Don't Follow Back people you don't know - This can help protect you against Direct Message spam. You can still talk publicly using @replies;

Sexting is not yet a big problem in the UK - so let's keep it that way.

Never send pictures of yourself taken on your mobile phone - that you wouldn't want your mum or dad to see - to anyone, even if you're close to the person who asks you, like a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Always keep private things private

Remember there is a risk that if you fall out with friends they may upload things you've told them, or pictures you've sent them to the internet and once that happens anyone can see them.

Unfortunately some adults who use the internet try to make friends with young people. They may pretend to be near your age but they could be much older. They might try to persuade you that if you were really their friend you would do as they ask and pose in revealing clothes. This is called grooming and is an offence in the UK.

Warning

If you EVER come across anything on the internet, whether it's on a social networking website or anywhere else, where people are making suggestions to you that make you feel uncomfortable or upset, please tell your parents or another adult.

CEOP (The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) investigates cases of sex abuse and grooming on the internet. Grooming is where people make friends with you and try to involve you in inappropriate activities. In the UK this behaviour is a criminal offence. You, your parents, or anyone else who is concerned, can report incidents by clicking the red button on the top right hand corner of the CEOP website.

Although the police can get information from your computer's hard drive, it's helpful if you don't delete anything you think is dodgy until the police have decided whether they need it as evidence.

Protect your identity

Don't upload anything that could identify you, which shows your home address, school, car registration number or phone number. Pictures can give away a lot of clues without you even realising it!

Don't get yourself into a situation which might embarass you and don't take pictures of other people which might embarass them and get you into trouble.

Like other social networking websites YouTube is not for people under the age of 13.

If you need help from Bullying UK email us here

Every year at Bullying UK we support over 300,000 young people as you cope with bullying but we can only do this with your help.

Bullying UK is a low cost charity, we provide our entire service for just £50,000 a year and all raised by you, the general public.

If you would like to help us you can get involved in a number of different fundraising activities, some are easy some are more challenging. It's up to you how you would like to support us.

Recycle - Take a look through your old CD's / DVD's and video games.. If there are any you haven't used in a while consider sending them to Bullying UK and we can turn them into a donation to support our work. Get your mates or entire school involved. If you have more than 10 things to donate we will send a man with a van to collect them from you!

Sponsored Silence - Don't say a word and get people to donate money for every hour or minute you manage, collect up the money and send it to Bullying UK or ask an adult to donate it to us through Just Giving.

Old Mobile Phones - Another save the planet idea which helps Bullying UK fund our work is to ask your Mum or Dad or other relatives if they have an old mobile phone. If you  have one in a drawer you don't use any longer ask permission and then send it to us and we can turn it into a donation.

If you need help from Bullying UK email us here