Chatting and Red Flags

Decide whether the following online interactions are risky. Check the interactions that you believe are risky.

• Sharing your favorite music on social media.

• Giving your address to a friend you know only online.

• Commenting on the post of a celebrity you admire.

• Accepting a follow request from someone you don't know.

Decide whether the following online interactions are risky or safe. Click the interactions that you believe are safe.

• Sharing your favorite music on social media.

• Giving your address to a friend you know only online.

• Commenting on the post of a celebrity you admire.

• Accepting a follow request from someone you don't know.

Which of the following statements about online relationship is true?

• You can always trust that someone will represent their real self online.

• Even your best friend can cause you to have red flag feelings.

• Only people you don't know in real life can cause you to have red flag feelings.

• It is always obvious when someone online has negative intentions.

Ana started a photo account to share funny photos and quickly got a lot of followers. One day a follower she had been messaging with, but doesn't know personally, sent her this message: "You are so funny! And your profile pic is so pretty! Want to meet up on video chat?" Ana is not sure what to do. Why might she be having a red flag feeling?

• The person should already know a lot about her based on the photos she posts.

• A video chat is a personal and risky request from someone she doesn't know.

• The person does not have as many followers as she does.

• Ana has liked some of the photos the person has posted.

In the previous question, what would you recommend Ana say or do based on the Feelings & Options steps?

• Take a chance and video chat with her follower.

• ​​​​​​Say that she prefers to meet in person because it's less awkward.

• Change the subject, such as talking about the last photo she posted.

How confident do you feel in being able to identify ways to respond to situations that cause red flag feelings for you? Why?