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Creepy Internet People
I'm a 14 year old girl and my friend is dating someone online over Instagram (FYI Instagram is just like this social media website). She doesn't even know the guy in real life. When she told me I was concerned so I casually started asking questions about the guy. Apparently he's 13, going on 14, he lives in the Philippines and his username on the website is like Mark_B or something like that. She asked if Mark was his real name and suddenly he had to go, she doesn't seem to find this suspicious at all..... I'm really concerned about this because what if she tries to meet him in real life or something? I warned her about the dangers and she just says "But he's so sweet!" And "He stole my heart!" And stuff like that. So should I be concerned or should I just let it all play out?
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I think you should be concerned because she s your friend and, you want to protected her by all the dsanhers that can happen to her by meeting this guy that she doesn't even know. When your friends asked Mark what was his real name, he had to go. But , why don't you ask her why? Maybe, the boy didn't wanted her to know anything about him. Why don't you ask your friend to search ALL his profile on Instagram. Maybe some photos about him. You will maybe learn a lot of things about Mark. If I was her, I would stop. I would just block that user. Talk to her. Or maybe you can involve people inside.
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It's good to be concerned because there are tons of bad people out there who really can hurt you.
Assuming you're friend is 13 or 14, it can be really, really dangerous.
A lot of people aren't who they say they are over the internet.
There's not much you can do but encourage her to be careful. I'm guessing you guys aren't from the Philippines. So if he's really from there, it's unlikely they'll ever meet since he's only 13.
If he tries to meet her, it's a good chance he's not who he says he is.
Like Dragonflymagic said, tell her to skype with him. If he can use Instagram, he can get skype.
Just make sure she doesn't give out any personal information.
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You can't believe anything for sure on the internet these days when it comes to meeting people on it.
People make up fake profiles all the time and there's now a movie and tv show about it.
Women posing as men, Men posing as women, older people posing as children or teens.
Police have used fake profiles with computer generated girls and voices that look as real as you and me just for the purpose of catching people who go after children to lure them for sex. Its a big trade and they are catching some this way.
The problem so many people, teens and adults alike get hooked on social internet contacts, internet dating or a game called 2nd Life, is because our emotions make it feel so real. This works in the same way watching a movie where a parent loses a child or a child loses a parent, We all start crying as we watch because the movie invokes these feelings of sadness, as we watch the characters, the diaglogue...no matter that its all made up script and just actors, our emotions get caught up easily in things like that.
But internet friendship, relationships are no more real than that. I used inter as a tool to find my 2nd husband. Other than the one letter he wrote me, my response and then him writing to give his phone number, thats all we talked on line. Due to a busy work week for both of us, we only had the late evening to talk and talked the 5 days every night for 3 hrs. At the next weekend we met in person and found we still liked each other, that what was represented in letter, on the phone was real, and even better in real life. This month we are together 5 years.
It is right that you are concerned. A still photo doesnt mean that is who you are talking to. Encourage her to use Skype where she can see the actual person moving in front of the camera as you talk or type. Just stay on good terms and be a friendly listening ear.
What you need to listen for is if she finds someone local, an older man she wants to meet in person, and actually arranges that. If you ever hear something like that, then you need to report it to her parents who need to report it to the police so they can arrange whatever they need to to protect your friend and catch the adult.
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