Get them thinking about other clues that a stranger may actually be an adult online. Discussions with teenagers can be more serious and mature. Social media is an everyday part of life and a huge aspect of their social life. By this age, they’ve probably been online for several years, and are experts at texting, chatting, watching videos, and listening to music.

Teenagers, as many parents know, usually live on their phones. Say: “Nothing you do online means you deserve for someone to make you feel bad.”.Teach them that it’s never their fault if a stranger sends them a weird message or makes them feel uncomfortable. Follow up with: “ They can send you inappropriate photos or make you feel weird, which is a form of abuse.”.Ask: “Do you think bad stuff only happens when you meet a predator in real life?”.Follow up with: “ Where else could they hang out online? Why do you think they do this?”Įxplain that online abuse is still dangerous - even if they never meet a predator in real life.Ask: “Where do you think potential predators could hang out online?” ( Examples they may say include: a chat room, in a DM, or even in YouTube comments.Get them thinking critically about other examples of how strangers may act online. Ask: “ Have you ever felt uncomfortable online?” Be understanding if you find out something you didn’t know about before.If you’ve never talked about this subject before with them, broach the subject gently. Questions for kids in this age range should involve a little more critical thinking as you delve into their personal experiences. Some may even have a social media account (or a few).

They’ll also have more experience with managing their online relationships with friends and family members.

Say: It’s never your fault if a tricky person sends you a message.”īy this age, many children will have their own phones.

‘Make sure they know that “tricky people” are the bad guys.

If someone asked for our address or phone number, you say no and tell me right away.” Follow up with: “It’s the same with being online.Ask: “If a stranger asked for the keys to our house, what would you say?”.Compare online safety to physical safety. I promise I will never be mad or upset - I just want to make sure you stay safe.” Follow up with: “Always tell me anytime someone makes you feel weird on the internet.What would you do if a grown-up voice started asking you where you live?” Say: “Pretend you’re playing Fortnite and using your microphone.They do this so other kids will trust them and they can be tricked easier.”Ĭreate a few example situations to show how predators work in the wild. Follow up with: “Sometimes, on the internet, like when you play games or watch videos, adults pretend to be kids.Ask: “How would you feel if a grown-up dressed up as a kid? You’d be able to tell right? On the internet, it’s harder to tell.”.We recommend keeping the subject light and talking about “tricky” people. Follow up with: “Did you know that people on the internet you don’t know in real life are also strangers? Why do you think we shouldn’t talk to them, too?”īut keep it light - kids don’t need to know all of the scary details.Ask: “Remember when we talked about stranger danger? Why is it important that we don’t talk to strangers?”.If you haven’t, check out this helpful guide. Start with tying it to a past discussion, if you’ve had one. Make the connection between real-life stranger danger and online stranger danger. Here are some ways to get them thinking about online safety: The way they use the internet usually revolves around watching videos, playing games, and chatting or texting with close family members. Kids this age don’t usually have a ton of experience talking with lots of people online - especially strangers. They’ll help you spark a dialogue so you can get insight into your child’s world and feelings around this very serious topic. If you sat down with your child and watched the video together, that’s great! To help make sure they understood everything - and get them thinking about how it’s related to their own life - we’ve drafted some conversation starters. Discussion Questions and Conversation Starters for After the Video

Dangers of online chatting for kids