Digital Friendships (UK)

How do you keep online friendships safe?

Children and young people make friends everywhere they go -- including online. But are all of these friendships the same? How can children and young people start online friendships and also learn ways to stay safe? Help your learners understand both the benefits and the risks of online-only friendships.

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Learning Objectives:

Compare and contrast different kinds of online-only friendships.
Describe the benefits and risks of online-only friendships.
Describe how to respond to an online-only friend if the friend asks something that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Key Vocabulary: benefit · private information · risk Show definitions

benefit:

something positive that results from a situation

private information:

information about you that can be used to identify you, because it is unique to you (e.g. your full name or your address)

risk:

something negative or dangerous that could come from a situation

Warm-Up: Who Do You Chat With?

5 mins.

Compare and Contrast: Two Scenarios

20 mins.

Evaluate: Benefits and Risks

10 mins.

Wrap-Up: Finish the Story

10 mins.

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Classroom resources

Lesson Slides
Sita's Online Friendships Handout Teacher Version
Finish the Story Handout
Lesson Quiz

Take-home resources

Family Activity
Family Tips