Did you know that more than half of teens make friends online nowadays? In America, almost four in ten nationals have online-only friendships. With the growing popularity of dating apps and online gaming, it is not surprising that more and more people are joining the movement.
If you are also considering finding new connections on the Internet, this guide is for you. In this article, we will explore how to safely meet and talk to people on social media and form online friendships.
Use Secure Platforms
Today, there are a lot of friendship apps, and every month, a new one comes out. It’s not always easy to tell which platforms are safe and real, so always thoroughly check before using them.
Before downloading an app or joining a platform, read through its privacy and security policies carefully. Face verification isn’t used very often, but it’s the safest way to approve your identity on these platforms. When an app uses face verification to authorize users, you can be more sure that you’re talking to real people, not fake accounts or people pretending to be someone else.
Keep Sensitive Information Private
Looking for friends online usually involves sharing your name, photos, and interests in the bio of your account. By reading it, other members will be able to understand if you have common interests and if you can get along, at least in the first stages. However, don’t take this as a sign to open up and present all sensitive information about yourself. Instead, stick to basics when composing a bio. Write what you like to do and who you want to communicate with, but do not go into much detail.
When you start chatting, adopt the same approach. Do not tell anyone where you live, work, or hang out. Remember that even seemingly friendly people can be scammers and mean harm. Unless you are really confident in someone you’ve been talking to for a while, avoid sharing any personal details. Stop chatting right away if they make you feel threatened or uncomfortable.
Set Reliable Passwords
Whether you are using social media or other platforms to meet new people, always come up with long, complex passwords that are impossible to guess when setting up your accounts. Use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) if possible to further protect your account and sensitive data.
Stay Cautious of Scams
Friendship apps and social media platforms are full of scammers. They might pretend to be your friend for a while and later ask you for financial help. Commonly, these scammers say that they or a family member got into an emergency and need money to cover medical bills. Victims fall under pressure and urgency, and end up sending funds. Next thing you know, the victim is on the block list. So, stay cautious and don’t provide any money to people you don’t know well.
Maintain a Safe Internet Connection
Even if your new friends seem to be safe and dependable, an unsafe internet connection might put you in danger. Connecting through an unprotected Wi-Fi network can attract hackers to your personal information.
A VPN service, however, creates a wall between your devices and unauthorized users. It hides the IP address of your device, so all the information you send and receive is encrypted and impossible for anyone to read unless it’s the device owner. So, it is essential to have it enabled anywhere, anytime, especially when using public networks and meeting new people online.
Making Friends Safely is Possible
Online friendships are as popular as ever, and it’s not a surprise that more internet users want to form meaningful connections. Yet, it is important to stay safe while doing so.
Watch out for scams and don’t give out private information to people you don’t know. Make sure that all of your passwords are strong, and use a VPN whenever communicating with people over public networks. If you need help picking the best VPN, read reviews to find the one that suits your requirements.
With all these safety measures in place, go ahead and find new online friends to create fun memories with!