[ChristmasNeeve]

Originally Posted by Ninastar

oh absolutely.

i dont think teenage girls realise who is going to target them when they mention their age and post pictures of themselves. Its easier now than ever for creeps to message girls, pretending they are younger than they are and getting into 'relationships' with them.

speaking from a personal experience, where we've had to get police involved, it's honestly shocking. This person would pretend to be the super loving caring 'boyfriend' but would also make fake accounts and attack my sister, saying the most horrific, disgusting things ever... Then the 'boyfriend' would pretend to be there for her, while getting off on the fact he'd made her seriously upset.

honestly, i cannot tell you enough that you need to watch what your kids do... even up to the age of 18. just get them to be honest with you. if they go on a forum, let them, but be cool about it.

i know they always do it in secret anyway, but being calm and honest with them is the best way for them to do the same back to you. you've got to tell them about these people who go for younger kids on purpose, cause if they know, then maybe alarm bells will go in their heads and they will be able to report it...

my sister is in hospital again because of all of this. they know exactly how to mess with younger girls minds.

That's terrible Caitlin and yeah that sort of crap is what I'm worried about. I don't think my daughter goes on forums, it's mostly snap chat and instagram. At the moment she only really uses her phone for internet but she's getting an ipad for Christmas so I'm a bit nervous about that.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

That's terrible Caitlin and yeah that sort of crap is what I'm worried about. I don't think my daughter goes on forums, it's mostly snap chat and instagram. At the moment she only really uses her phone for internet but she's getting an ipad for Christmas so I'm a bit nervous about that.

Niamh,I have a 11 year old going on 20,who hates the fact I will not let her have a FB or Twitter account,it really is worrying,it's bad enough that she Face times her friend and dread to think what she would get up to if allowed to go on social networks as she likes to take 'selfies' and she'de be postiing them everywhere,they just don't see the dangers of what other people can be like,Maia has an Ipad and you just have to keep being nosey,even though they hate you for it,lol .

[T*]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Niamh,I have a 11 year old going on 20,who hates the fact I will not let her have a FB or Twitter account,it really is worrying,it's bad enough that she Face times her friend and dread to think what she would get up to if allowed to go on social networks as she likes to take 'selfies' and she'de be postiing them everywhere,they just don't see the dangers of what other people can be like,Maia has an Ipad and you just have to keep being nosey,even though they hate you for it,lol .

You have to give them a bit of space and freedom tbh

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

That's terrible Caitlin and yeah that sort of crap is what I'm worried about. I don't think my daughter goes on forums, it's mostly snap chat and instagram. At the moment she only really uses her phone for internet but she's getting an ipad for Christmas so I'm a bit nervous about that.

..Caitlin, I'm so sorry to hear about your sister's experiences ....

...I think Niamh that it's the fact that you are nervous and will take an interest in her online activities that will ensure that she's a lot safer on the internet because she also knows that she can talk to you and Gav about any worries she may have and that's really what it's about because we can't and shouldn't stop online activity of our children I don't think but more take an interest in what they're doing ...I don't have daughters but I have many friends who do and I also have four nieces and none of them have ever had any real issues on the internet in anything they've been part of because any small concerns they have had, they've spoken to their parents and friends about so it's never become a big worry...I think that's the same in all areas of their lives though, just always talking about stuff and being interested in what they do, how things are going etc and I know that you do that so I think she'll be fine...we only hear about the bad stuff, don't we and that just makes us really concerned but it's also those concerns that help keep our children safe...