••Students should be aware that any file stored on
the host family computer is not considered private.
Students should not store anything on the host family
computer that they do not wish to be viewed by host
family members.
••Students should be aware of the danger of internet
predators. Predators can become a threat when a
student communicates with strangers over the internet.
Never reveal personal information, such as school
name, home town, contact information or pictures.
Never agree to meet someone in person who you met in
an internet chat room.
••Students should not use violent, offensive or sexually
suggestive photos, screen names or language on the
internet. These can result in the student being asked to
leave their host family and/or school placement. In such
cases, YFU may need to recommend an early return to
the home country.
••Pictures or videos depicting nudity or sexual acts must
never be viewed, downloaded, or sent electronically.
This is a serious crime in the US that can result in
the student being arrested, charged with internet
pornography, and sentenced to jail. Do not open such
files sent by friends from your home country.
Recommendations to the Host Family:
••Host parents are encouraged to discuss safe ways to
use the internet with their students.
••Host parents or school personnel may choose to
monitor their student’s personal web pages and other
internet use. Although such monitoring is common
and legal in the US (if the activity is on a host family or
school computer), it may be considered an invasion of
privacy in many cultures. YFU requests that host parents
always notify the student before checking computer
activity.
••A student’s own laptop computer is private property,
and neither YFU host families nor YFU representatives
are permitted to violate student privacy by examining
personal records or correspondence. However, YFU
host families and representatives can ask a student to
surrender the laptop as a con ][ۈو