Online Friendship Safety: What Teens Should Know

Being careful is not the same as being closed off

You can be warm, funny and open about the things you love while still keeping the details that could locate you to yourself.

People who want to take advantage of someone online are not looking for the person with the most locked-down profile. They are looking for the person who answers every question, apologises for saying no, and doesn't want to seem rude. So the most protective habit you can build isn't secrecy — it's being comfortable leaving a question unanswered.

Everything below is built on that one idea. Share your taste freely. Share your location, routine and identity documents never.

The green list: things that are safe to share and actually make friends

These are the details that give someone a reason to talk to you.

• What you're into

  Bands, games, shows, sports, art styles, the book you keep re-reading. Specific beats broad every time.

• What you're currently doing

  "Learning bass", "drawing every day in August", "three episodes from the end" — these are conversation hooks.

• Your sense of humour

  A bio that made someone smile is worth more than a list of adjectives.

• Opinions you're happy to defend

  Best album, worst film ending, whether pineapple belongs anywhere near a pizza.

• A recent photo of your face

  Not your street, your school gate, your bus stop or your front door in the background.

The red list: things that stay off your profile and out of chat

None of these make you more interesting, and all of them narrow down who and where you are.

• Where you are

  Address, street, neighbourhood, the shop you're outside of right now, live location of any kind.

• Where you go every day

  School name, team, club nights, the time your bus leaves. A routine is a place plus a time.

• How to reach you elsewhere

  Phone number, personal email, handles on other apps — at least until someone has been a real friend for a long while.

• Anything private about other people

  Your friends' photos, drama or details are not yours to hand out.

• Anything intimate

  No sexual photos, ever, of yourself or anyone else. It's against the rules here, and once an image is out it stops being yours.

Five behaviours worth acting on immediately

You don't need proof that someone is dangerous. Discomfort is a good enough reason.

1. 1They want to move off MyLOL fast. "Let's talk on another app" in the first hour means they want to talk somewhere with no report button.
2. 2They ask for secrecy. Anyone telling you not to mention them to your parents is telling you they know it's wrong.
3. 3They escalate personal questions. Age, then location, then who's home, then photos — that's a pattern, not curiosity.
4. 4They love-bomb. Enormous compliments from a stranger are a technique, not a compliment.
5. 5They get annoyed when you say no. A real friend hears "I'd rather not" and moves on.

What you can do on MyLOL when something is wrong

You never need permission and you never need to explain yourself.

• Block

  Stops that person contacting you or interacting with your page. It's immediate, and you don't owe anyone a reason.

• Report

  Sends the profile, message, photo or post to our moderation team to review against the Community Guidelines.

• Do both

  Blocking protects you now. Reporting is what protects the next person they try.

• Age separation

  Teen MyLOL and Adult MyLOL are separate communities — adult members are not in teen spaces.

• Tell someone offline

  A parent, carer or another trusted adult. Reporting online and telling someone at home are not alternatives; do both.

If you already shared something you regret

This part matters more than everything above, because most people freeze here.

You are not in trouble. Not with us, and — however it feels right now — very likely not at home either once an adult understands what happened. The people who exploit teenagers online rely entirely on the target being too embarrassed to tell anyone for a few days, because those days are when they apply the most pressure.

Do three things, in this order: stop replying, report and block the account, and tell an adult you trust what happened. Don't send money, don't send another photo, and don't try to negotiate. If anyone is in immediate danger, contact your local emergency services.