The internet can be a great place to make connections, but we can’t always trust everyone online
Listen to our podcast to find out what young people across the UK are saying about trusting people online – whether you have specific problems in the online world or not.
It’s helpful to be able to talk to adults we trust about the reality of our online lives. However, not everyone has trusted the adults in their lives, and if that’s you, you’re not alone. You can get instant support from texting Shout out right now or find various supports in our list here.
“One of the most useless pieces of advice people can give young people struggling with social media is not to use it”
We live in an age where being online is almost inevitable. School, work, friendships and free time can be connected online. For this reason, it is unrealistic to expect young people to disconnect. More than that, chatting online helps us be ourselves by giving a platform to thoughts, feelings and topics that can be uncomfortable conversations in person. By gaining the confidence to hold conversations virtually, we can carry that confidence into our offline lives.
“I used Facebook to find out some of the people who would be staying in the same accommodation as me in my first year (at university).”
The Internet can be a really positive tool for making and maintaining connections. This episode discusses connecting with roommates before you move to university through Facebook group chats. Connecting with strangers online can be extremely helpful in some cases! But how do we keep it safe?
“There is too much pressure on the individual to keep ourselves safe and not enough pressure on companies to make it safe”
Internet safety is a subject taught in schools across the UK, highlighting the issue that we can’t trust everyone online. This episode discusses how social media platforms are still doing very little to protect users from fake profiles. Because of this, it’s even more important to keep ourselves safe while still getting all the benefits of being online.
Here are some tips to stay safe online:
Keep personal information private – Make sure you know what people see when they view your profile. Never give out personal information such as your address or phone number.
Reporting and blocking – Use the report and block buttons if a user makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. No one has the right to make you feel this way.
Speak it – Tell a trusted adult about your experience or report it to the police. This is a serious matter and you should not deal with it alone.
Remember it’s not your fault – Untrusted profiles can be hard to spot and can happen to anyone. The most important thing is to ask for help if you need it.
Listen to the entire miniseries here:
We explore the ways the online world affects our mental health in this 3-part podcast mini-series from producer Tim Moorhouse.
In the voices of Fumble volunteers and students from Firth Park Academy High School in Sheffield.
I thank him Cameron Grant Memorial Trustwhose support made this series possible.
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Last reviewed on July 20, 2022
Image credit: Jake Ellis
