Fumble Talks: How do you know you can trust someone online?
The internet can be a great place to build connections but we can’t always trust everyone online
Have a listen to our podcast to discover what young people across the UK are saying about trusting people online – whether or not you face any particular issues in the online world.
It’s helpful to be able to talk to the adults we trust about the reality of our life online. Not everyone has trusted adults in their life though, and if that’s you, you’re not alone. You can get immediate support by texting Shout right now, or find various support in our list here.
“One of the most unhelpful pieces of advice people can give for young people struggling with social media is to not use it”
We live in a time where being online is almost unavoidable. School, work, friendships and free time can all be connected to the internet. For this reason, it’s unrealistic to expect young people to log off. More than that, talking online helps us to be ourselves, giving a platform to thoughts, feelings and topics that may be uncomfortable conversations to have in person. By gaining the confidence to have conversations virtually, we can transfer that confidence into our offline lives.
“I actually used Facebook to find out some of the people that would be living in the same accommodation as me in first year (at university)”
The internet can be a really positive tool for building and maintaining connections. This episode discusses the ability to connect with flatmates before moving to university, via Facebook group chats. Connecting with strangers online can be extremely useful in some circumstances! But how do we keep it safe?
“There is too much pressure on the individual to keep ourselves safe and there isn’t enough pressure on the companies to make it safe”
Internet safety is a topic that is 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 too little to protect users from fake profiles. Because of this, it’s even more important to keep ourselves safe while still gaining all of the benefits from being online.
Here are some tips for keeping ourselves safe online:
Keep personal information private – Make sure you are aware of what people see when they view your profile. Never give out personal information, such as your address or phone number.
Report and block – Use the report and block buttons if a user is ever making you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. No one has the right to make you feel this way.
Talk it out – Tell a trusted adult about your experience or report it to the police. This issue is serious and you should not have to deal with it alone.
Remember it’s not your fault – Untrustworthy profiles can be hard to spot and it can happen to anyone. The most important thing is to ask for help if you need it.
Listen to the full mini series here:
We’re exploring the ways the online world impacts on our mental health in this 3 part podcast mini-series from producer Tim Moorhouse.
Featuring the voices of Fumble’s volunteers, and students from Firth Park Academy high school in Sheffield.
Thank you to the Cameron Grant Memorial Trust, whose support has made this series possible.
Other support
- Childline – Staying safe online
- Teen Vogue – Social media safety: How to protect yourself online
- Common Sense Education – Teen voices: Who you’re talking to online
Read more
Last Reviewed 20 July 2022
Image Credit: Jake Ellis
