Online friendships and group chats

Much of friendship now happens in group chats, games and online communities. They are great for staying close and finding people who share your interests, but they bring their own pressures and risks. A few habits keep them positive.

The good side

• Group chats make it easy to make plans, share information and keep in touch, and they help people get to know each other before something new starts, such as college (Childnet).
• Online, you can find friends who share niche interests that nobody at your school has (CEOP Education).
• For students moving abroad, chats with family and old friends are a valuable support network, alongside building new local friendships.
• Healthy friendship rules still apply online: respect, honesty and being able to say no.

Group chat pressures and how to manage them

• Young people tell Childnet about pressure to stay active, be funny or controversial and keep up with messages, including late at night, plus fear of missing out.
• Mute busy chats. You still receive the messages but without constant notifications (Childnet).
• It is fine to leave a group that makes you unhappy, or to start a new, smaller one with the people you trust (Childnet).
• Use privacy settings so people cannot add you to groups without permission, and consider turning off read receipts.
• If you set up a group, message people privately first to check they are happy to be added, especially if they do not know each other (Childnet).

Being a good group chat member

• Assume nothing is private. Anything can be screenshotted or forwarded, and it may affect your reputation with friends and later in professional settings (Childnet).
• Do not join in when a chat turns on someone, and do not forward embarrassing photos or messages. Childnet notes unkindness hurts more in a group because everyone can see it.
• Watch out for side chats set up to exclude or talk about someone. Removing people on purpose can be very hurtful and isolating (Childnet).
• If a chat turns nasty, you can say something simple ('Not cool, let's leave it') or message the target privately to check they are ok.
• Sort out real disagreements privately, ideally in person or by call, not in the group (Kids Helpline).

Friends you have only met online

• Someone can hide who they are, even after chatting for a long time (CEOP Education).
• Warning signs: they seem too perfect and flatter you a lot; they push you to move to a private app; they ask you to keep the friendship secret; they offer gifts or rewards; they bring up topics that make you uncomfortable.
• Do not share details that could help someone find you, such as your school, home area or daily routine, and do not share any image you would not want others to see.
• Before meeting an online friend, talk to a parent or carer, meet in a busy public place in the daytime, keep someone updated and consider bringing someone with you. A genuine friend will be fine with this (CEOP Education).
• For more on online grooming, sextortion and reporting crimes, see the Personal Safety module.

When something goes wrong

• Do not reply to mean messages. Screenshot them as evidence, then block and report (Childnet, UNICEF).
• Tell a trusted adult. UNICEF notes parents may not know the app, so you may need to explain what is happening.
• UAE: the Digital Wellbeing Support Line, 80091, run by the Digital Wellbeing Council, gives advice on everyday online situations for all family members (UAE Government portal).
• For bullying, use your school or the Ministry of Education Child Protection Unit (80085). If you are in immediate danger, call 999.