Strangers Online: Who Are You Really Talking To?

Imagine someone knocks on your front door. You peek through the window and you have never seen them before. Would you open the door straight away? Probably not — you would ask a grown-up first. Now think about this: every day, millions of children get messages online from people they have never met. Is that the same situation? Is it more dangerous, or less?

When you play games, use apps, or go on social media, you might meet people you have never seen in real life. These people are called unknown users — people whose true identity you cannot be certain of. Here is the tricky part: online, anyone can pretend to be someone else. A person might say they are a 10-year-old who loves the same game as you, but in reality they could be an adult with harmful intentions. This is called being deceptive — it means pretending to be something you are not. Some unknown users are perfectly fine — other children playing the same game, for example. But because you cannot see them or check who they really are, you should always be careful. Warning signs to watch for: • They ask for your full name, address, school, or phone number. • They ask you to keep your chat a secret from your parents or carers. • They send you gifts, game credits, or special items and then ask for something in return. • They push you to move the conversation to a private app away from the main platform. • They get angry or pushy if you say no to something. Remember: a good online friend will never pressure you or ask you to hide things from your trusted adults. What should you do? 1. Do not share personal information — things like your address, school name, or password. 2. Do not agree to meet an unknown user in real life. 3. Tell a trusted adult — a parent, carer, or teacher — straight away if something feels wrong. 4. Block and report the user on the app or game you are using. 5. Remember: it is never your fault if someone online behaves in a scary or uncomfortable way.