Talking to teenagers about their online lives is essential if you want to protect them. Many teenagers use social networks, internet chat rooms, and instant messaging programs to communicate and socialize — however understanding the risks of talking to online strangers is imperative.
Reality is, many of us have met many very nice people online, but with young people they can be vulnerable and not always able to decipher if there is a predator behind the screen. Even adults have been duped or taken for money.
Almost half of kids (43%) have talked to strangers online, while 1 in 5 girls surveyed said they have sent sexually explicit photos. This is very troubling since teen sexting scandals have been on the rise.
5 Ways to Stop Talking to Online Strangers
How can you convince your teen to stop talking to online strangers? As parents, we understand that knowledge is power, this is about equipping your teenager with as much knowledge as possible. This is a constant conversation, not a one-time discussion.
1. Online Chatting Basics: Talk to your teen about the similarities between the digital and physical world, explaining how these two environments are closely related and interconnected. Explain that online, people can make fake profiles and pretend to be someone they’re not. There are many adults pretending to be young people for less than ethical reasons.
Teens should treat virtual people the same way they would vet people in real life — use common sense and discretion before giving out any personal information.
2. Keep Friends Close: If your teen has met a virtual friend (person) online, encourage them to always include one of their good friends in the conversation. Remind your teen (over and over) that people online are not always who they seem to be — the rise of online scams and predators have skyrocketed over the years.
The ground rules are simple enough and should be followed without exception: if you don’t already know the person in real life, don’t engage with them online in any way. Having a friend in real life involved, can help your teen remain safer.
3. Teach Exit Strategies: Giving your teenager a way out helps them exit uncomfortable online situations if they slip into one. They shouldn’t hesitate to stop, block and tell someone they trust if they feel they are in danger.
Teens need to learn not to feel bad or rude for leaving conversations abruptly if they feel threatened or uncomfortable. Having a good friend or their parents to talk to can help them feel more secure in these situations.
4. Screen Time Limits: Reality is, the less time online, the less chance of your teen mingling with strangers or being scammed. Unfortunately it is impossible for parents to manually monitor online behavior 24/7, limiting apps and certain sites is a great start, however we know young people will sometimes find their work-arounds.
Technology agreements are necessary for all young people, however it’s just as imperative for parents to follow through with the rules and consequences of the agreement.
Like in real life, nothing after midnight (or for our teenagers) potentially after 10pm online, is good. Be firm with no devices or internet access in their bedrooms. Parents may want to suspend internet access altogether at other points, like dinner or bedtime to avoid temption.
5. Talk About Real Life Dangers: There is no sugar-coating the risks of meeting virtual strangers in real life, especially if they are doing this secretly. Online predators are caught regularly through FBI stings — watching shows like To Catch a Predator with Chris Hansen, who is still catching these criminals today, can be a major wake-up call for young people.
Take the time to find real-life stories and headlines, talk to your kids about these when they are in the news. No one is immune to bad things happening to good people.
Stopping your teen from talking to online strangers is speaking openly and honestly with teens about what – and who – they encounter online, even if it brings up some difficult topics. Empower and equip your teen with the tools they need to know when to click-out and tell someone.
Also read:
Why Teens Are Secretive About Their Online Life
How to Help Your Teen That Feels Lonely
Image credit: Freepik
