There are many resources on the internet to advise you on how you can help to ensure your safety on the web. We recommend that you take the time to explore information regarding cyber safety and that you continually review your own online activities to make certain that you are putting safety ahead of socialization at all times.
One site you may want to explore is: http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0006c-teens
AFS takes student safety very seriously. We recommend that you be extremely careful with your personal information. Please use care when connecting with or “friending” others. On AFS social networking sites like Facebook, we make efforts to keep our community restricted to individuals who are directly involved with AFS programs, such as volunteers, students who are studying abroad, alumni, students who are hosted in the U.S., staff, etc.
Please customize your privacy settings so that only authorized people can see your personal details and be careful about what kinds of identifying information you publicly share about yourself. Never share your host family’s address or contact information on social media. If someone requests this information from you, please tell your host family immediately so that they can advise you of next steps.
Posting for AFS Fan Pages and Groups
AFS-USA has created several community pages and open forums for members to share advice, experiences, videos, photos, etc. about hosting an AFS Exchange Student and the experience of studying abroad. While users on these open forums can provide first-hand information about their own AFS experiences, please refer to the AFS-USA website as your official resource for up-to-date opportunities and program information: You find AFS-USA on social media via these links:
- https://www.facebook.com/AFSUSA/
- https://twitter.com/AFSUSA
- https://www.instagram.com/afs_usa/
- https://www.tiktok.com/tag/afsusa
When you become a member of an AFS group online, this indicates that you agree to conduct discussions and other postings with respect. Members should not spam, defame, harass, or stalk members, encourage illegal activity, or in any way falsely represent themselves, nor should they post explicit, obscene, or otherwise objectionable content. Posts should be relevant to AFS-USA.
We reserve the right to delete inappropriate or off-topic content and posting such content may result in being blocked from our fan page. If you find anything inappropriate, please notify a page administrator so that we can handle it appropriately.
Questions
While we try to monitor discussions, AFS fan pages and other sites are NOT official forums for discussion. Urgent questions and concerns should be addressed directly to AFS-USA staff at 1-800-AFS-INFO (1-800-237-4636). Discussions, photos, and other entries on AFS social networking sites do not necessarily represent the opinions and/or policies of AFS-USA.
Electronic Communication and Participant Web Use
The following information consists of tips for safe and effective participant internet use. You should be aware that customs involving internet use differ around the world, and use the following sections as a guide for appropriate internet use while in the U.S.
Think twice if it isn’t nice!
Whenever you send an email or post something online, there is a chance that it will be shared with people other than the intended recipients, including the media. Not only could negative communication cause problems for you within your circle of friends, but it could also hurt your host family and the reputation of AFS in your community. Furthermore, laws exist that prohibit the transmission of negative information about others, so think twice if it isn’t nice.
You are, of course, free to discuss your experience in the U.S. with anyone, however, for your own protection and in the best interest of AFS, do NOT email or post any content on the internet that is critical of particular individuals, your host community, or the U.S. Choosing to disregard this policy could result in an early return or other disciplinary action. Any concerns you have should be directed through the AFS Chain of Communication to ensure they are best addressed and to respect the confidentiality of all involved.
Privacy Counts
Did you know that it is against U.S. laws to share detailed personal information about others, such as full name or address, without permission? Similar laws may apply when sending a photograph of someone without their permission. Social security numbers should never be posted on the internet or sent via email, under any circumstances. Sharing information about yourself or others on the web puts you and others at risk for identity fraud and other security concerns. Don’t do it!
If you create a blog or post information to a website, remember that (unless password- protected) any information posted on the internet can most likely be accessed by the public. Because search engines regularly index most sites on the internet, it is possible that members of the public may be able to locate a participant’s personal blog by searching for information about AFS- USA or a particular country. This is possible even if you don’t actively promote your website.
If you are part of a social networking site, make sure you are not disclosing private information about yourself or your host family, and that your privacy settings are set so that only friends can access your profile. Remember that many people (your host family, teachers, students, etc.) may have access to information linked to you, including pictures. Make sure to control the information on these sites to maintain a good impression of yourself, your host family, and AFS.
Please note that any information that appears on social media or other public websites which refers to your involvement in activities such as driving, drugs, or other dangerous behaviors may be cause for early termination of your program. Violating host country travel policies or other policies established for your safety may also be cause for early return to your home country. This information is explained in the Participation Agreement, to which you agreed upon entering the program. Please respect AFS rules and exercise discretion when choosing what to post on social media.
Guidelines for Internet Use
Given the realities previously mentioned, you are responsible for ensuring that your internet use is consistent with the following AFS-USA guidelines:
Approval: We highly recommended that participants who create their own blogs or post material to social media discuss the content in advance with their host family and liaison to ensure that the material is suitable and complies with these guidelines.
Disclaimer: Any website maintained by a participant during his or her AFS-USA program must reflect the fact that it is not an official publication of AFS-USA. The site must be labeled clearly and prominently with an appropriate disclaimer such as: "The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of AFS-USA."
Use of the AFS-USA Logo: Because use of the AFS-USA logo is reserved for official activities authorized by AFS-USA, the logo may not be used on participant websites.
Cultural Sensitivity: The thoughtful opinions that participants convey in their communications with others can contribute substantially to developing a better understanding of other countries. However, given the broad access to participant-posted material on the internet, participants should remain culturally sensitive with respect to the material they post to any website. Participants should be reminded that people in their host countries and members of the U.S. public may make assumptions about AFS-USA or the participant’s community based on the material a participant posts to a website. Although we encourage participants to express themselves freely, participant-posted material on the internet should make efforts to not reflect poorly on AFS-USA, the host family, or the host or home country.
Safety and Security: As a safety precaution, participants are urged not to post details about where they or other participants live or any information about events to be attended by a large number of participants, such as orientations or parties. For example, participants who live in small towns or rural areas should not post the name of their community or town online and, instead, should refer to the general area of the country (Northwest, Southeast, etc.) For their own protection, it is also advisable not to provide information about participants’ personal possessions.
Participants Must Not Use Dating Apps/Sites: Our top priority is your safety and well-being, and participants must not use such apps/sites because of the risks they pose to your safety. Some users on such sites misrepresent themselves and seek to take advantage of and/or harm youth. Furthermore, many dating apps require their users to be 18 years old. As a result of this AFS-USA, asks that any apps used with the intention to meet someone in a romantic capacity are not used by participants while on program.
Publication Policies: As stated in U.S. Department of State Regulations, participants may NOT be employed while in the U.S. therefore, participants may not accept payment for anything they write or photograph that appears on the web. Participants should be advised that posting materials to the internet that they have not authored or created may violate U.S. copyright laws.
When in doubt…
- When in doubt about whether something that you are planning to email or post is appropriate and/or lawful, consider these questions and discuss the answers with a host parent or liaison: Am I revealing any personal information about someone without their permission?
- Am I revealing personal information about myself which might be misused?
- Am I revealing personal information about my host family without their knowledge and/or permission?
- Am I using materials protected by copyright (such as the AFS logo)?
- Even if I have permission, is it wise and safe to share this information on my website, blog, etc.?
Practical Tips for Internet Use
- DO NOT install any software without your host family’s permission. Even if the software itself is okay, it may have a bad interaction with other software on the computer. It may also introduce spyware, programs that are installed secretly along with a legitimate program. This software is usually poorly written and almost always results in the computer running dramatically slower. It can silently record your personal information and send it to a third party. You may also find spyware masquerading on websites as something helpful. Often, an offer to speed up your computer, reduce spam, or uninstall spyware is actually spyware in disguise. Remember, nothing is free, and you are NOT the lucky winner of a free iPad!
- DO NOT download illegal materials. Illegal music includes files such as MP3s, which come from a source other than the music’s owner, without permission from the owner. The use of file sharing programs to trade MP3s is illegal in the U.S. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) aggressively pursues and prosecutes people caught downloading MP3s illegally, resulting in large fines and even jail time. Illegal software includes software or games that come from a source other than the original developer, without permission from the developer. It is illegal for your friend to send you software so that you don’t have to buy it. There are software programs and games that the developer allows to be given away for free (gratis), but these should come from the original developers so that you know that it is legal.
- Copyright laws vary around the world. What may be legal to download or file share in your home country might be illegal in the U.S. Illegally downloading or sharing materials expose you and your host parent(s) to potential legal action. Even if you feel illegal downloading and file sharing is harmless, you may not take risks that could potentially harm your host parent(s). For this reason, it is acceptable for your host parent(s) to monitor your internet practices to help ensure your actions are safe and legal. If you are unsure, please ask for guidance.
- DO NOT open any attachment you are not expecting. This is true even if it looks like it’s from a friend, especially files that end in .zip or .exe (.jpg, .png, and .gif are okay). Files ending in .zip or .exe can introduce a virus, a program which is intended to cause a problem on a computer. The problem could be small and harmless, or it could destroy information on your computer or infect other computers. Even if you have your own computer, a virus on your computer could affect your host family’s computer if your computers are connected through a network.
- DO NOT turn off the firewall on your computer.
- DO NOT follow a link in an email from anyone you don’t know.
- DO NOT put any personal information about you or your host family on any public forum (full name, email address, street address, phone number, birth date, etc.)
- DO NOT post anything on a public forum that you would be embarrassed to have seen by your host family or parent(s)/guardian(s). A public forum is a place that anyone can access.
- DO NOT put your email address on any websites or blogs. You will get spam.
- DO NOT respond to spam, even to take you off the email list. You may get more spam.
- DO NOT forward any email that says you should forward it to your friends.