Social media is an integral part of children's and young people's lives. They use it to stay in touch with friends, but also to make new ones. Not everyone they meet online has bad intentions.
Talk to your child
Has your child told you that they would like to meet someone they got to know online? That's a positive sign. It means your child trusts you enough to share this with you. Be sure to acknowledge and appreciate that trust.
Try to gather some more information:
- Who does your child want to meet?
- How did they get to know each other?
- Do they have friends in common?
- Ask your child if you can take a look at the other person's profile.
- Try to determine whether this person appears to have genuine intentions.
- Of course, meeting an online friend always involves some level of risk, and your child should be aware of this.
Rather than immediately punishing your child or forbidding the meeting, aim for an open and trusting conversation, and try to reach a well-considered decision together.
Tips
If your child still wants to meet this person, consider sharing the following advice:
- Do not go alone. Bring someone along, such as a friend. Alternatively, you as a parent or caregiver could stay nearby.
- Arrange to meet during the daytime and in a public place.
- Discuss the meeting beforehand with a trusted adult.
Find more information about the work of the Belgian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness-raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
Social media is an integral part of children's and young people's lives. They use it to stay in touch with friends, but also to make new ones. Not everyone they meet online has bad intentions.
Talk to your child
Has your child told you that they would like to meet someone they got to know online? That's a positive sign. It means your child trusts you enough to share this with you. Be sure to acknowledge and appreciate that trust.
Try to gather some more information:
- Who does your child want to meet?
- How did they get to know each other?
- Do they have friends in common?
- Ask your child if you can take a look at the other person's profile.
- Try to determine whether this person appears to have genuine intentions.
- Of course, meeting an online friend always involves some level of risk, and your child should be aware of this.
Rather than immediately punishing your child or forbidding the meeting, aim for an open and trusting conversation, and try to reach a well-considered decision together.
Tips
If your child still wants to meet this person, consider sharing the following advice:
- Do not go alone. Bring someone along, such as a friend. Alternatively, you as a parent or caregiver could stay nearby.
- Arrange to meet during the daytime and in a public place.
- Discuss the meeting beforehand with a trusted adult.
Find more information about the work of the Belgian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness-raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
- friendship parent-child relationship online-friend
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