Real Life Stories
It Happened so Fast!
While using an Instant Messenger (IM) program, a 12-year-old girl added someone who she did not know to her contact list. Within 10 minutes, the suspect requested that the child go on webcam, made sexual comments to her and asked her to show her bra.
What does this mean?
Sometimes children/youth may accept friend/buddy requests from people they don't know in person. Sexual offenders may hijack IM accounts and attempt to coerce children/adolescents to send nude or partially-clothed images.
What can I do?
- Teach students about adding friends only if they have already met them in person.
- Reinforce the idea that not everyone is who they say they are online — people can pretend to be older or younger than they actually are.
- Explain to students that pictures should not be sent or posted online without parental permission. Once sent, control over what happens to the pictures is lost.
- If a student comes across something or someone that makes them feel uncomfortable, explain that it is important for them to tell you or a safe adult.
- Check out our Popular Activities section for more information on technologies being used by children and how to make them safer, and our Healthy Friendships and Unhealthy Friendships sections to learn more about how to speak to students about who are real, true friends both online and offline.