There have been two different views on the internet since its beginning. One group believes it is the most outstanding innovation ever, and the other believes it is nothing more than self-destruction.
And, if we weigh both viewpoints, it is true that, besides being the most outstanding technology for humans, it has also caused significant disruption in our lives.
On the one hand, everything that seemed far-fetched a few decades ago is now possible thanks to the internet. While on the other hand, it has alienated and immersed the young generation in their smartphones.
Along with their fascination with their smartphones comes the need to communicate with strangers meeting online, often known as “online friends” in millennial terminology. The internet has made it so much easier to find new people. Making friends online, however, remains a controversial topic. Should I let my kids have online friends? Read further.
Should I let my Kids have Online Friends?
From a parent’s perspective, the idea of friendships online can be very unpleasant. They are so worried about their kids that they would not allow them to engage in conversations with strangers, particularly those they encounter on the internet.
But, there is no reason to be worried since not everyone they encounter online is a scammer or a predator. There have been several instances of kids, and even adults, finding pure and genuine friendships online on the internet. So, ultimately, it comes down to how you use the internet and how good you are at judging people’s intentions towards you.
In this article, I’ll take you through all the positive and negative aspects of having online friends, as well as any ground rules to follow if you have a large number of online friends or you have kids who enjoy making online friends and are unaware about online safety. So, shall we begin?
Kids Have Online Friends: Positive Aspects
First, let’s look at the positive aspects of having online friends and online safety.
1. Easier To Open Up
As obnoxious and offensive the online World can be at times, let’s face it is also the most chill and comfortable place to be. It is a platform meeting online people who share your common interests and some entirely different.
Still, whatever the situation, one thing is sure that you won’t have almost as many inhibitions and shyness while talking to them as you would have if you were talking to them in your real life.
Some kids are introverted and find it challenging to interact casually with their school or college peers. Also, social media has provided a platform for them to communicate and express themselves in these situations. But, make sure you monitor their social media activities.
The risk of being judged is often reduced because even if the people you’re talking to are judgmental, it won’t matter. After all, they’re your online buddies. As a result, most people are more at ease with their online peers than with their actual friends.
2. Fighting Loneliness
Not every kid and adolescent is confident and outgoing; a substantial group of kids is much too anxious or coy to have a regular conversation with their peers. Given how important it is to have at least one friend with whom you can share everything about your life, these introverted kids are the ones who are struggling.
It is apparent that life is dull and lonely without mates, but social media is here to help. It not only enables you to deal with loneliness, but it can also help you deal with a variety of mental health problems.
Many kids are isolated from their peers, and they may find solace in the company of their online mates. So, making online friends isn’t such a bad idea on a significant scale of things.
3. No Geographical Limitations
Another advantage of having an online friend is meeting people from all around the World. The internet has no geographical boundaries, allowing you to interact with people from all over the World.
It can also be an excellent learning opportunity for you since you can learn about their country, history, culture, and so much more. There is, of course, a language disparity, but with so many people speaking English nowadays, this may not be an issue.
Kids Have Online Friends: Negative Aspects
The points mentioned above are excellent reasons to trust your kids to have online friends for online safety. Now Let’s have a look at some of its downsides.
1. Risk of Predators
Your kids have online friends, but is there any case that your kid became a victim of online predators?
First, let us discuss the most severe and dangerous risk: the risk of predators and scammers. We all know that the internet is full of crooks who are waiting for the one wrong step on the internet to ruin your life forever.
There have been several reports of predators pretending to be your mates, manipulating you, and attempting to obtain your personal information, photographs, or images. As a result, many kids have fallen victim to certain people and have destroyed their lives.
And it’s also possible that the individuals you’re communicating to online don’t exist at all, and they’ve stolen their identities from somebody else to thug you. You never know who they are because there’s a risk they’ll ghost you. As a result, there is some uncertainty about making online friends.
2. Miscommunication
The internet is one of the most popular means of communication, but it is not the best. No matter what, online chatting can never overtake face-to-face contact. When you chat or video chat with your friends online, there is a chance that the things you are trying to say may not come across the way you want, leading to misunderstandings between the two.
And when you are having a physical conversation with someone, you can always sense each other’s tone and voices resulting in minor miscommunication.
3. Internet Addiction
One of the most obvious negative consequences of making online friends is how easily an internet connection can turn into an addiction. Over the internet, you can sustain constant contact with people who live thousands of miles away.
You can chat with people from France, the US, Australia, and anywhere in between. This extensive network of networks can be bewildering and even dangerous at times.
There is a chance that once you start making online friends, you will then repeat the loop, looking for perfect mates indefinitely. Extremely intense online friendships offer us a euphoric feeling, which quickly turns into internet addiction.
Furthermore, internet addiction can impair one’s capacity to make real life friends. When you become used to friendships online and the liberties you enjoy, you can become socially uncomfortable and hesitant to make offline friends.
Rules to follow if Kids have Online Friends
After discussing both the positive and negative sides of having online friends, let’s look at how you can be careful. You don’t have to worry if your kids have online friends. Here are rules that you can follow when talking with strangers online.
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Choose Your Online Friends Wisely
One of the first things you should remember if you are interested in making friends online is to choose them wisely for online safety. Given the number of people you encounter online, it is often wise to avoid engaging with people you suspect are not suitable for you.
With online friendships, there is still the possibility of not knowing what kind of people they are, and no matter how often you talk with them, you can’t say for sure about their motives. There will still be some uncertainty.
So, the only thing you can do is trust your intuition and avoid communicating with them if you see any suspicious behavior.
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Use Safer Sites
Another thing to remember is to use safe and secure websites to keep kids safe online. Nowadays, many online dating and friendship applications can help you find people that share your interests and likes.
Also Read: 5 Best Tinder Tracking Apps
Several applications are available, but only a handful are legitimate and risk-free. And it is also very likely that you may end up on the wrong ones. So, the first and most critical move is to research the applications you want to use to avoid more complications.
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Don’t Over Share
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, refrain from oversharing your details to protect yourself from cyber predators. Many kids have online friends and after just a few conversations, they end up sharing their whole lives’ details with them.
This is a terrible idea because you never know their real motives. There have been several instances of extortion and conspiracy based on people’s knowledge about others’ personal information.
So, it is essential to be on the safe side, keep your things to yourself, and not indulge in private conversations sharing personal information with strangers online.
Conclusion
So, should I let my kids have online friends? It’s completely your decision since now you’re acknowledged with the positive and negative side of having online friends.
Online friendships are good if you are cautious and do not lose yourself in the device. Online friends may be a helpful addition to the social network, but they can not be used in place of real life friends.
And as a parent, don’t let paranoia drive you to prohibit your kids from engaging with others and forming friendships online. It’s difficult to adapt because technology and the internet sound so fresh and exciting, but the irony is that the online world isn’t all that different from the offline world.
There are some risks, but for the most part, it’s full of people doing their best, being honest with one another, and looking for someone to connect to.
Also Read: 10 Negative Effects of Social Media on Teenagers
Also Read: Why Do Teens Commit Crimes
