Is my online friend safe?

Ivie shares her eye-opening story

Your thoughts (26)

I met Anne in a chat room for girls. She looked friendly in her display picture. She loved dancing as much as I did.

Anne knew exactly how to cheer me up. If I told her that my mum scolded me, she’d crack a joke and make me laugh. Although we’d never met, I knew we were good friends. She understood me well.

One evening, we were chatting as usual. She asked me how much my mum made. I said that I didn’t know. The next day, she asked me if my mum kept money at home or in the bank. I told her that sometimes my mum kept money in her pillowcase. She said I should go get some for us. I explained that I couldn’t because it was wrong.

Anne stopped replying my messages. I missed her and I just wanted to make her happy. She would have done the same for me. So I removed loose change from my mum’s pillowcase. Then I sent Anne a message telling her what I’d done. She responded with a big smiley face. She requested for my address. I typed it and prepared to hit send.

But I had a weird feeling in my tummy. The kind I got whenever I was nervous. I told Anne that it didn’t feel right to send her my address. She sent an angry red smiley. She said that she’d show me what she did to girls like me. I realized that I was in trouble. I went to my mum and owned up. I was so ashamed of myself.

My mum told me to always report any creepy online friend to her. She showed me how to block Anne in the chat room. I did not know that most websites allow me to block and report people I don’t want to contact me. My mum also banned me from going online for three months. Then she made me promise I’d never steal again. Now I know ‘Anne’ was never my friend.

The internet can be fun but remember to treat it like your home. You will not open the door for any stranger who knocks on your door. Protect yourself in the same way online. Let’s keep our eyes wide open. If an online friend makes us uncomfortable, asks us to meet them, or to do anything wrong like Anne, we need to tell a trusted adult immediately. Do not meet with such people or give them your personal details.

Want to read more inspiring stories like this one? Then head to our Springster Facebook page and connect with a community of girls just like you! - https://www.facebook.com/heyspringster

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Your thoughts

nice,, good to keep ur self safe

March 20, 2022, 8:01 p.m.

Good decision..Safety first

March 20, 2022, 8:01 p.m.

Latest Reply

hi big sister am time

we shd only put our trust in d lord

We should not just trust anyone especially people who we have never met in person.

March 20, 2022, 8:01 p.m.

we should never trust anybody we meet on social media

March 20, 2022, 8:01 p.m.

Don't reveal your personal address and dont do what they say.SAS

March 20, 2022, 8:01 p.m.

thanks very much for this advise of yours

March 20, 2022, 8 p.m.

I really love this😍😍😍😍

March 20, 2022, 8 p.m.

nyc 1

March 20, 2022, 8 p.m.

Good!!

March 20, 2022, 8 p.m.

Thank you very much Ivie for your story. Big Sis, I need your advice. I have an online friend. I met him in a science group chat. I enjoy chatting with him, and we always stay up late at night to discuss different issues. He calls me his wife and yes, I can't deny my liking him. He's really intelligent and smart. I always talk about him that my friends wonder if I'm dating him, when I'm not in actual sense. Few weeks back, I invited him to my birthday party. He showed up. He does not live in the same city with him. I'm not just sure I know him enough and I'm really scared of losing him, 'cause I'm already addicted. My friends tell me his not for real. They feel he has ulterior motives but I don't think so. Please, Big Sis help me. I'm in a dilemma.

March 20, 2022, 8 p.m.

Latest Reply

Hey Dee! Thanks for opening up through this comment. You need to be really careful with people you meet online. Most of the time, they are not safe. You can only count on the words they tell you and sometimes, they can be lying to you. It may be all rosy and sweet but when they get what they want, their real personalities show. Please and please, do not get carried away by the aweet times, your guts tell you that you do not know him well enough, follow your guts! You should not be scared of loosing someone you barely know. You just have to be extremely careful because he already knows your house too. We advise that you talk to a trusted adult about this. We hope this helps

nice one

March 20, 2022, 8 p.m.

dere is a gal dat lyks me but I don't lyk her wat shud I do

March 20, 2022, 8 p.m.

dere is a gal dat lyks me but I don't lyk her wat shud I do

March 20, 2022, 8 p.m.

Latest Reply

Then give her a chance

Hello guy, if you no like the girl then tell her than for her to think say you like am as she like you.

Thanks!! Am learning alot here

March 20, 2022, 8 p.m.

can I trust a friend we met online?

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

Latest Reply

Hey medex! Thanks for the comment. As stated in the article, you need to know that you cannot and should not trust people you meet online and you need to be very careful. We hope this helps

THANKS

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

Can i trust a friend i met onlind

March 20, 2022, 7:56 p.m.

Latest Reply

Hey Jolly! Thanks for the comment. It is not advisable to do so. What you should do is to read the article above and also talk to a trusted adult about it. We hope this helps

Hi springster and Big sis,Happy new month and happy independent day may God continue to favour and bless us.someone say a Big Amen and be blessed.AMEN!!!!!!

March 20, 2022, 7:55 p.m.

I love making new friends online and we do share pictures and advise each other. Until one day I was stabbed at the 🔙 . I cried my eyes out and slept off I regretted trusting online friends and ive learnt my lesson. What happened caused mentioned block almost the sweet tongue ones because they were all deceiving me and making stay under pressure I'm relieving now. Being myself and happy

March 20, 2022, 7:54 p.m.