For young people, online dating isn’t just about using dating apps—it’s about how relationships develop on social media and through private messages. While most children today are tech-savvy, they may not be tech-safe. It’s important to remember that while young people may be comfortable using the latest apps, they may not have developed the resilience to deal with the challenges that come with building and maintaining online relationships.
Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and vulnerable individuals may be more trusting and socially naive and therefore more likely to recognize the dangers of forming online relationships.
According to research from LSE : Disabled children tend to have more digital skills but are at greater risk online and may lack peer support.
Contact with online care
Who your children talk to is most likely other children, but some people may not be who they say they are, or they may be groomed by sexual predators. They may try to trick a young person into believing they are trustworthy, that they are a friend, or they may even pretend they are the same age.
According to the NSPCC, more than 200,000 secondary school pupils have been groomed online (2019 Figure) .
Note: Not everyone you meet online has the right intentions. For this reason, it is important to discuss the risks associated with online dating, such as online grooming and also what signs to look out for in order to avoid getting into unsafe situations.
Consequences of sexting
In the wrong hands, sexting can lead to bullying, emotional abuse, revenge porn, harassment, embarrassment, low self-esteem, and even depression.
Note: Discuss technical dangers—sometimes teens are tempted to send nude photos, and unfortunately, there have been cases where these images have become public.
Make sure they understand they have the right to say no, and that anyone who cares for them should respect that. See our sexting guides to learn more and get support equipping your child to make safer choices online.
Online harassment
As your teen explores the realm of romance online, advances, sexually explicit images, and general harassment become more and more unwanted via social media, chat forums and websites, dating apps, or messaging services like WhatsApp and Snapchat.
Note: If you are concerned about someone your child is interacting with online, it is important to report these concerns using the appropriate tools on the social media platform they use. You can also find more information at CEOP .
It’s also important to note that some social media apps use location services to allow users to see each other’s location and thus find potential partners. This could put young people at risk if they want to meet someone they’ve only previously connected with online. Discussing potential risks and implementing safety rules are essential to protect them.
Data protection concerns
It’s important to keep certain personal information, such as their location, address, and school or university education, private. Searching for their name could be an easy way to find out what information is available about them. Children often share multiple social media usernames on these apps, allowing strangers to access more personal information and confidential conversations.
Note: With the right privacy settings , monitoring all their social media accounts and disabling location services allows them to keep track of what information is visible to everyone.
I seek confirmation from others
Teens tend to seek validation online. When it comes to dating, they may be more likely to do or say inappropriate things to gain acceptance from someone they may be in a relationship with.
Note: To ensure they make safer decisions, talk to them about a range of topics they may encounter while online dating, such as trust, sex, and intimacy. This will help keep them balanced when they encounter things that may be false or lead them to believe something that isn’t true.
Limited social interaction
If your teen only seeks relationships online and neglects their offline relationships, it can affect their well-being. For example, a teen in a long-distance relationship with a boyfriend who lives in a different area may decide to skip social events like a party because they’d rather stay home and chat with their boyfriend online.
Because of the nature of the online world, young people can easily develop a stronger emotional connection to online-only relationships at the expense of friends and family they know in real life.
Note: You should check in with your teen regularly to ensure they’re maintaining a good balance between online and offline time . You can also remind your child of opportunities to connect with peers offline—such as through sports, dance and drama classes, or other social activities.
is an American author, blogger, and cybersecurity specialist based in Florida. He developed an interest in writing during his school years, which later led him to create content aimed at raising awareness about various forms of online scams, particularly in the world of online dating.
On his platform, Scam Service Report, Hall shares analytical articles and practical advice to help users recognize and avoid traps set by scammers on dating websites. He describes common scam scenarios in detail—such as quick declarations of love, urgent requests for money transfers, refusal to engage in video chats, and attempts to move conversations off the dating platform.
