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Love and Friendship on the Internet?

Michelle Hand
St Vincent’s, Dundalk

In the media recently all we’ve heard about is girls meeting boys on the Internet, chat-room shockers and paedophiles seducing innocent children on the web. But it’s not ALL bad! Not everyone who enters ‘widemouth’ or ‘Ireland uncovered’ is a weirdo. Genuine, sane people only looking for someone to chat to, or become friendly with, log on too.

Speaking from the point of view of a regular chatter who met a boy on the Internet, e-mailed and chatted to him for six months before arranging to meet, I can tell you that not all these people are rapists and serial killlers. The freind I met turned out to be a genuinely nice fella. Ok, so maybe I was one of the lucky ones but, in the end, I lost nothing and gained a friend.

Saying that, for every ‘real’ character’ on the Internet there is sure to be at least two shady ones. So, if you are arranging to meet an Internet mate in person, always bring a friend, tell your parents the arrangements (where and when) and meet in a public place. Other than that, just keep your eyes and ears open and it can only be a positive experience. Be safe!

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