Online Stranger Contact Plan for Families

What children should do when someone unknown messages them, offers gifts, asks secrets, or wants to move apps.

Online stranger danger works differently from the old street-safety talk. A stranger may look like another child, offer game currency, flatter your child, ask for secrecy, or slowly move the conversation to private channels.

Children need simple pattern recognition. Gifts plus secrecy is a warning. Moving apps is a warning. Asking for photos is a warning. Threats or guilt after refusal are a warning.

The family plan should be easy to remember: stop, screenshot, block if safe, tell an adult, and do not delete evidence if there are threats or sexual requests.

Parent Checklist

Teach the warning signs: secrecy, gifts, moving apps, photos, threats, adult topics, and guilt.
Keep usernames and public profiles free from school, location, and full-name clues.
Review friend lists in games and social apps.
Preserve evidence before blocking when there are threats or sexual requests.
Contact specialist support or emergency services if immediate danger is possible.

What to Say

A safe person will not ask a child to keep secrets from their family.

If someone offers you something online and says not to tell me, that is the sign to tell me.

You will not be punished for asking for help with a strange message.

Make this specific to your child

Generate a plan that matches age, apps, devices, country, and your current worry.

Create my free family plan