Online and Offline Friends

You get a friend request...

Friends When you meet someone on the Internet they aren’t immediately your friend You don’t know who they are right away and need to be sure who they are before they can be a friend You need to learn to trust people online just like you got to know your friends within real life

Staying Healthy If someone wants to be your friend, you can stay healthy by asking questions: Ask them – who are you? Or, how do I know you? If they can’t tell you, don’t add them – they’re not a friend

Don’t be afraid to ask who they are…

Ask them to prove it If someone says you do know them and they are a friend make them prove it! Ask them to go on video (Skype/Facetime) and show you who they are If they don’t want to or get angry if you ask they might be a fake

If someone makes you feel uncomfortable... If someone talks to you about something you don’t like or makes you feel uncomfortable they are not a friend Don’t feel pressured to give out information or tell people things because they are your online friend!

Remember... People you add or meet online are not instantly your friends! You need to be careful who you let into your online life... You take time to make friends in real life and you need to do the same on the Internet!