BBCi chatrooms are ‘open’, whatever you type can be seen by everyone in the room. Please think about your own safety when using them.

Don’t reveal personal details such as your home, work, or school address, telephone numbers, credit card details or passwords. Also, think twice before giving out your full name – for example, if you have an unusual surname it could make you traceable.

Don’t reveal your email addresses in the chatrooms, as it would be visible to those who you want mail from, and to those you don’t.

Never arrange ‘real life’ meetings with people you got to know in chatrooms - they may not be who they say they are.

Children should be supervised by a parent when using chatrooms. If you think your child is using chatrooms when you’re not present, be aware that peer-group pressure to obtain a boyfriend/girlfriend may cloud their judgement.

Make sure they understand the dangers in giving out their personal details in chatrooms (see above) and that they know how unwise it would be to organise ‘real life’ meetings with strangers they’ve got to know online.