Meeting online friends
Social networking: Meeting online friends
An online friend wants to meet me – what should I do?
Sometimes the friends you make online (like in chat rooms and on social networking sites like Club Penguin) might want to meet up with you in ‘real life’. What should you do if someone suggests it?
Meeting up with an online friend is a bit of a tricky issue. Sometimes, the person you’ve met online turns out to be completely different than what you’d imagined. They may have even told you stuff about themselves or what they want that isn’t true in order to make friends. For example, an online friend who says they’re a 12 year old guy who’s into skateboarding may in fact be someone completely different – someone younger, or older, or not even a guy!
Because you can never tell who you’re talking to online, it’s a good idea to not agree to meet your online friends offline. If you’re tempted to meet them, always talk with your parent or caregiver first. They can help you decide whether it’s a safe thing to do and how to make it as safe as possible.
Top tip
If you’re in doubt about anything you come across online, remember to stop, think, ask yourself some questions about it, and remember:
• Some people lie about who they are
• Things you put online are there forever
• If you’re worried you can talk to an adult you trust
Click here (link to safety rule card) to download a safety rule card to help you remember these top tips.
|
|
|
