Tips for Teens

Don't say you're older than you are. We take extra precautions to protect our younger members and we are not able to do so if you do not identify yourself as such. Star Search Casting will delete users whom we find to be misrepresenting their age to access content or areas they should not.

Star Search Casting is a public space. Members shouldn't post anything they wouldn't want the world to know (e.g., phone number, address, email, IM screen name, or specific whereabouts). Don't post anything that would make it easy for a stranger to find you, such as your local hang out. It's always fun to post pictures but remember that what you might consider a harmless picture of you and your friends in your uniforms at a school football game, is actually a map telling a stranger exactly where you go to school.

Don't post anything that could embarrass you later or expose you to danger. Please remember that Star Search Casting is public and many people have access to what you post, including potential employers, colleges, your teachers and peers at school that you might not even know. You shouldn't post photos or info you wouldn't want adults to see or people to know about you.

People aren't always who they say they are. Be careful about adding strangers to your friends list. It's fun to connect with new Star Search Casting friends from all over the world, but avoid meeting people in person whom you do not fully know. Remember that you don't really know who is on the other end of an Internet connection.

Harassment, hate speech and inappropriate content should be reported. If you encounter inappropriate behavior, inform your parents or a trusted adult and report it to Star Search Casting or the authorities.

Don't get hooked by a phishing scam. Phishing is a method used by fraudsters to try to get your personal information, such as your username and password, by pretending to be a site you trust. If you suddenly start receiving abnormal comments or messages from a friend, they might have been phished. Check with them before opening any files or clicking on any links. If you think you, or a friend, are a victim of phishing, change your password immediately.

Avoid in-person meetings. Don't get together in person with someone you "meet" online unless you are certain of their actual identity. Talk it over with an adult first. Although it's still not risk-free, arrange any meetings in a public place and bring along friends, your parents, or a trusted adult.

Think before you post. What's uploaded to the net can be downloaded by anyone and passed around or posted online pretty much forever. You shouldn't post photos or info you wouldn't want adults to see or people to know about you.

Check comments regularly. If you allow comments on your profile, check them often. Don't respond to mean or embarrassing comments or emails. Delete them, block offensive people from commenting further and report the abusive person to SSC. Also, never respond to emails from strangers that ask personal questions.

If someone contacts you and tells you that you will be paid upfront for an acting or modeling job it is a scam!

Use caution and common sense when replying to messages. Anyone can send you a message, so please use your best judgment to determine its legitimacy. Messages cannot be verified as to accuracy, reliability, or truthfulness. If something doesn't sound legitimate, it probably isn't. If someone is asking you for a registration fee or any money upfront, even if they say they will reimburse you later, please report this to us by clicking "Block Me" on the person who contacted you. Please visit our forums to read about the latest entertainment industry scams.

Trust your gut if you have suspicions. If you feel threatened by someone or uncomfortable because of something online, tell an adult you trust and report it to the police and SSC.