Online dating the risks for teens internet matters


The Risks
According to the NSPCC, more than 200,000 secondary school kids have been groomed online (2019 figure).
The Risks
Connecting with potential love interests online can be fun and exciting for young people but it can also come with potential risks. We explore what these risks are and what you and your teen should look out for to stay safe.
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Teens’ experiences
  
The risks
  
Advice & Resources

What’s on the page

  
Are young people equipped to deal with risks of online dating?
  
Exposure to online grooming
  
Consequences of sexting
  
Online harassment
  
Privacy concerns
  
Seeking validation from others
  
Limited social interaction

Are young people equipped to deal with risks of online dating?
For young people dating online isn’t just about using dating apps – it’s about how relationships develop on social media and through private messaging. Although most children today are tech-savvy, they may not be tech safe. It’s important to consider that although young people may have be able to navigate the latest apps with ease, they may not have built the resilience to deal with issues that come from building and managing online relationships.
Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those that are vulnerable, may be more trusting and socially naive, therefore more at risk to understand the dangers when forming online relationships.
According to research from LSE: disabled children tend to have more digital skills but encounter more online risk and may lack peer support.
CEOP film highlights why it’s important to talk to children about sex, relationship and the internet
Here are ten tips to equip teens with the tools they need to make safer choices about who they interact with romantically online.
Exposure to online grooming
Who your children talk to are most likely other children, but some people may not be who they say they are or may be groomed by sexual predators. They may try to trick a young person into believing that they are trustworthy, that they are a friend or they may even pretend that they are the same age.
According to the NSPCC, more than 200,000 secondary school kids have been groomed online (2019 figure).
Advice: Not everyone they meet online will have the right intentions, so it’s important to discuss the risk surrounding online dating such as online grooming and also what signs to look out for to avoid putting themselves in unsafe situations.
Things you need to know about online grooming guide
Consequences of sexting
If in the wrong hands, a sext, can perpetuate bullying, emotional abuse, revenge porn, harassment, embarrassment, low self-esteem, even depression. 
 
Advice: Discuss tech dangers – sometimes teens are tempted to send nude photos and unfortunately, there have been cases where these pictures have become public.
Make sure they understand they have the right to say no and that anyone who cares about them should respect that. See our Sexting advice hub to learn more and get support on how to equip your child to make safer choices online.
Nude selfies: What parents and carers need to know
Online harassment
The more your teen explores the realm of romance online, they may experience unwelcome advances, sexually explicit pictures and general harassment via social media, chat forums and sites, dating apps or messaging services such as WhatsApp and Snapchat.
Advice: If you’re worried about someone your child is in contact with online, it’s important to report these concerns using the appropriate tools on the social media platform they are using. You can also find more information by visiting the CEOP.
It’s also important to note that some social media apps used location services to allows users to see each others locations to find potential matches. This could put young people at rsks if they are planning to meet someone that they have only connected with online. Having a conversation about potential risks that they could face and putting in palce safety rules are essential to keep them safe.
Why is online sexual harassment an issue for women and girls?
Step UP, Speak UP resource to help young people deal with online sexual harassment