Internet Safety: Friend Requests

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Friend Requests

Today you will learn how to recognise and respond safely to friend requests from people you do not know.

Stay Safe Understand why accepting friend requests from people you do not know can be unsafe.

Check the Person Learn how to think carefully about who is behind an online account.

Protect Information Know what personal information should never be shared with strangers online.

Know What To Do Learn how to ignore, delete, block or report an unwanted request and tell a trusted adult.

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Be Inspired

Charlotte and Lost Princess both receive friend requests from people they do not know.

As you explore the story, think about this question: What would you do?

Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are.

Open Caught in the Web

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Check It Out

Before accepting a friend request, stop and think carefully about who is behind the account.

1. Check the Person - Do you actually know this person in real life?

2. Check the Profile - A name, photograph or profile can be fake or stolen.

3. Protect Your Information - Never share your school, address, phone number or other personal details with someone you do not know offline.

4. It Is Okay to Say No - You do not have to accept a friend request just because someone sends one.

5. Tell a Trusted Adult - If someone makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, tell a parent, teacher or another trusted adult.

Remember: If you do not recognise someone, it is safest not to accept their request. If something feels wrong, stop, leave the conversation and tell a trusted adult.

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Do It Yourself

Now it is your turn to show that you understand how to stay safe with friend requests.

Read each situation carefully and choose the safest answer.

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Extension

Can you apply what you have learned to a realistic online situation?

Friend Request Detective

Imagine you receive a friend request from someone you do not know.

Create a short set of Rules for Friend Requests that could help another pupil decide what to do.

Include at least five rules and explain why each rule helps someone stay safe online.

Think Like a Digital Citizen

Good digital citizens do not simply ask, "What should I click?"

They stop and think: "Is this person someone I know and trust, and what is the safest thing to do?"

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Finished!

Well done! You have completed your Friend Requests lesson.

You now know how to think carefully before accepting a friend request and what to do if someone online makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Before You Leave...

Who is safe to add as an online friend?

Why might an online profile be difficult to trust?

What personal information should you keep private?

What should you do if someone you do not know contacts you?

Ready for some fun?

Try another Internet Safety activity and practise making safe choices online.

Explore the Internet Safety Games