No matter what, people you love can be pedophiles. Family members can be one, cops can be one. A lot of people. If they ever ask you to show your private parts, you have the right to say "No!"

While support communities are places to heal, they can also attract people with bad intentions. Stay in control of your digital safety by following these guidelines:

1. Keep it Public.

Avoid DMs: The safest place to talk is in the public comment section where others and moderators can see what is being said.

Red Flag: If someone insists on moving the conversation to Discord, Snapchat, or private messages right away, be extremely cautious. Just report them. They don't deserve to be in your life anyway.

2. Recognize "Love Bombing"

Predators often use overly intense affection to build quick trust.

Watch out for strangers calling you "hun," "sweetie," or "darling," or claiming they are "so proud of you" and "the only ones who understand" shortly after meeting you.

3. Guard Your Information

The Tiny Details: Never share your school name, specific neighborhood, or the names of people you know. Predators piece together small bits of information over time.

Check Profiles: Before replying to a "supportive" message, click their profile. If their history looks suspicious or they only interact with minors, do not engage. They are just disgusting creeps looking for a victim.

4. Use Your Tools

Disable DMs: You can go to your Settings > Account Settings > Blocking and Permissions to turn off direct messages and chat requests entirely. It varies by site. But you can block them too.

The Block Button: Like I said above. You do not owe anyone an explanation. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, block them immediately.

Report: If you see predatory behavior, use the "Report" button or message the subreddit moderators via Modmail.

Remember: Real support respects your boundaries and your privacy. If someone is pushing you to share more than you're comfortable with, they are not there to help.

Here are some resources to help.

Here

Here

Here

Here

Here

If you have to, remember this saying I made.

If they’re kind, stay in the line. (Public comments only)

If they’re pushy, get out of the bush. (Avoid high-pressure people)

If they DM, it’s the end of them. (Block/Ignore private messages)

If they're kind, stay in the line.

If they're pushy, get out of the bush.

If they DM, it's the end of them.

Remember. You're never alone in this.

Would you rather be forced to read all books of the Hunger Games 50 times or listen to an extremely annoying song for the rest of your life?

View Poll

Is this what you call "rich and engaging" responses when the boy says "Sorry, but I can't assist with that."