I Was Groomed Online as a Teen. Here is What You Should Know

How are teens groomed online, even when they have loving, involved parents?I was groomed online as a teen by multiple adults, even though my parents did many of the things parents are told to do to keep their kids safe.This episode is different from my usual episodes. It started as a private voice note to my coach about why I became an internet safety expert. But as I started talking, I ended up telling the fuller story of my childhood, my secret online life, the grooming I experienced, and the conversation with my mother that changed everything.For me, online grooming didn’t start with someone who seemed dangerous. It started with belonging, acceptance, shared interests, attention, attraction, and feeling understood.The internet had become a safe space where I could connect with people who loved the same things I did. Predators were able to use some of the very things I loved about being online to build trust, test my boundaries, and eventually ask for things I wasn’t comfortable with.And I hid much of it from my parents.Not because they didn’t love me. Not because they didn’t care. And not because they weren’t trying to protect me.I was terrified that telling them the truth would mean losing the phone, internet access, relationships, and online world that meant so much to me.In this episode, I talk about what online grooming actually felt like from my perspective as a teen, why kids can become vulnerable even in loving families, why connection and belonging matter in grooming prevention, and how my mother created a safe enough space for me to reconsider meeting a man in his 40s whom I had met online.I also share how I eventually realized that what happened to me was grooming, how those experiences led to the work I do today, and why I created Secret Lives of Teens Online.If you’re a parent wondering how online predators groom teens or why a child might hide an unsafe online relationship, I hope my story helps you understand the part of online grooming we don’t talk about enough:What the child is getting from the relationship matters, too.Want to share your story? If you want to share your experience growing up online (the good, bad, ugly, and beautiful), you can email me at: [email protected]. You can share your story anonymously in writing or ask about participating in a video interview.Want to connect? Follow me on Instagram: @CyberFareedah and send me a message with your thoughts on the podcast! You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or wherever else you spend your time online! I’m CyberFareedah everywhere ♥Want to work with me? If you’re interested in a workshop, speaking engagement, partnership, or other project, email me at [email protected] or submit a booking request here: https://www.cyberfareedah.com/projectsNeed support protecting your teen online? Join my Protect Kids Online Membership and get your first 7 days free here: https://www.skool.com/protect-kids-online-membership-4029/aboutMajor kudos to you for joining the moms staying ahead of the game!