
Please note that it is completely up to you whether you follow these or not, but I am cautioning you all the same. Because believe it or not, if you follow these, you'll be a lot safer on the Internet.
1. Don't give your gender or age away to anyone except close friends.
2. Don't give your phone number away. People can find out where you live if you give them your number.
3. NEVER give you home adress away. Not even to people you are completely sure they are who they say they are. Because if you give your home adress away, people could stalk you, and that is not good at all.
You may be thinking, "They're my friends though! What if I want them to visit, or talk to them on the phone?". The answer is, a person is not always who they say they are. A person you befriended you could say they're 12 when they're really 24. If they soften you too much, they might lure you into giving them your phone number or home adress. Then you'd have a 24 year old person stalking you. Not good. Most of the time, your friends really are who they say they are, though it is possible that they're not. I've been able to confirm some of my friends' ages without taking any risks.
Here is one easy way. You need Pokemon Diamond or Pearl. If you have wi-fi, and your friend has wi-fi, you could trade or have a battle. Listen closely. You might pick up your friend's voice through the microphone. Usually their voice will tell what age they are. If it sounds just about the age your friend says they are, then that confirms it. Your friend really is who they say they are.