Cyber Explorer Skills · lesson 13 of 16 · 15 min
Safe sharing mission prep
Before you share anything online — a photo, a comment, personal information, or a link — you should run it through a quick mental checklist. This is your safe sharing mission prep. The goal is to make sharing a thoughtful habit, not a reflex. A few seconds of thinking can prevent a lot of problems.
Remember: once you share something online, you lose control of it. It can be screenshotted, shared, and seen by people you never intended. The best protection is to think carefully before you share — not after.
The safe sharing checklist: Is this information safe to share? Do I know who will see it? Could it reveal my location, school, or routine? Would a trusted adult approve? Could this hurt me or someone else?
The safe sharing checklist in detail
Is this information safe to share?
- Creative work, general interests, public events
- Personal details, location, school name, routine
Do I know who will see it?
- Friends only, with strong privacy settings
- Public post, unknown audience, “friends of friends”
Could it reveal my location or routine?
- No location data, no identifiable landmarks
- Street signs, school name, “home by 5pm every Tuesday”
Would a trusted adult approve?
- Yes — they would be comfortable with this
- You would feel uncomfortable showing them
Could this hurt me or someone else?
- No — it is positive and harmless
- It could embarrass, harm, or reveal information about someone
Key words to remember
- Safe sharing
- Privacy settings
- Permanent
- Audience
- Consent
Match each sharing scenario to the right decision
Safe sharing — quiz
Before sharing a photo online, what is the most important question to ask?
- Does it have enough likes?
- Could this reveal personal information about me or others?
- Is the lighting good?
- Did I use a filter?
Answer: Could this reveal personal information about me or others?
Always check whether a photo could reveal personal information before posting it.
If you share something with “friends only” on a social app, it is completely private.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Friends can screenshot and reshare content. Nothing online is completely private once shared.
Which of these is safe to share publicly online?
- Your home address
- Your school schedule
- A drawing you made with no personal information
- Your phone number
Answer: A drawing you made with no personal information
Creative work with no personal information attached is generally safe to share publicly.
What should you do before sharing a photo of a friend online?
- Share it immediately — they will love it
- Ask their permission first
- Only share it if it is a good photo
- Tag their location in the post
Answer: Ask their permission first
Always get consent before sharing photos of others — they have a right to control their own image.
Once you share something online, you lose control of it.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Once shared, content can be screenshotted and spread — you cannot fully control where it goes.
What is the best time to think about whether something is safe to share?
- After you post it
- Before you post it
- Only if someone complains
- Never — just share freely
Answer: Before you post it
Think before you share — not after. Once something is online, it is very hard to take back.
Which of these reveals your location?
- A drawing of your favorite animal
- A photo with a street sign visible in the background
- Your favorite color
- A poem you wrote
Answer: A photo with a street sign visible in the background
Street signs in photos can reveal your location or home address to strangers.
Sharing your daily routine online can help strangers predict where you will be.
- True
- False
Answer: True
A predictable routine tells strangers when and where you will be — this is a safety risk.
What does “consent” mean in the context of sharing photos?
- A type of privacy setting
- Permission from the person in the photo before sharing it
- A legal document
- A type of copyright
Answer: Permission from the person in the photo before sharing it
Consent means getting permission — always ask before sharing photos of others.
What should you do if you are not sure whether something is safe to share?
- Share it and see what happens
- Ask a trusted adult before sharing
- Share it with privacy settings
- Ask friends online if it is safe
Answer: Ask a trusted adult before sharing
When in doubt, always check with a trusted adult before sharing anything online.
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