The following information was found in our local Council newsletter. The Winter 1998 issue of Girl Scout Leader will provide additional safety measures to be performed in the use of council and personal web sites. I will post an update at that time.
Not everyone seems to be aware that while a web site can provide valuable information to Girl Scout audiences, it can also be a source of danger if text is posted on it indiscriminately. People working on Girl Scout Web sites have sometimes included seemingly innocent details that identify girls and places they go, not realizing that these identifiers are just what cyberstalkers who prey on children are looking for. Here are a few tips to ensure the safety of girls/troops referred to on Girl Scout Web sites.
- Use only girls' first names.
- Never use pictures of individual girls if they are identified in any way, even by only first name.
- Never post addresses, phone numbers, or e-mail addresses of girls.
- Don't list addresses of troop meeting places or the dates and times of the meetings.
- Don't post addresses for council program event sites and facilities (such as camp).
