How can I help my sister without stirring up c**p???

Question

My little sister is 12, and she plays on this thing called gaia or something like that. Well apparently she met a boy on there and gave him her e-mail address. I have the password to her e-mail and check up on her regularly (someone has to keep her safe) but she does not know that I do this. I recently stumbled on her e-mails back and forth with a boy that she met on gaia, and I don't think what they were talking about was appropriate at all. He said that he wanted to marry her and talked about kissing her and making 1000 kids with her and things like that. For all I know this "boy" could be a 60 year old man!!! What should I do without upsetting my sister?

Answer 1

Tell your parents and let them look into it. They can do it in a way where she wont know that you told on her.

Answer 2

maby go into the ofise or where ever the computor is when you know shes on it and ask what shes doing thatll putt her in the spot then tell her about internet saftey and tell her unless you know thiss person in real life to never giv them  your email and ask the boy/man to send a picture ov him self

Answer 3

12? That's like 30 online. Predators only go after kids 8 and under because of the exchange rate.

Tell 'er to keep on keepin' on, because when she is 13, her internet world is going to crash down around her

Answer 4

either way i think she is going to be mad...she will probably feel like you were invading her privacy, but like you said someone has to keep her safe... just explain to her that chatting over the internet can be dangerous and that she needs to be very careful and tell her that you dont think that what she is saying back and forth to this guy is appropriate. my sister always get mad when i butt into her business but if you are keeping her safe then you shouldnt feel bad about it. tell  her that you are worried about her safety and then explain to her that pretators are on the internet everyday just looking for someone to target. she might get mad but in the long run i think she might understand....better safe then sorry!!

Answer 5

I would be talking to your parents about this. She is 12 and does not have the best judgement. She may end up trying to meet this guy and as you say, he could be 60

Answer 6

It does sound a little worrying, and it is also against the rules of many teen/p*****n audience on line games to exchange emails.

It is likely to end in tears, one possibility, if you could sneak it by, would be to add a block filter, assuming she isn't computer savvy enough to spot the interference.

Really, at 12 she ought to be able to take on board that "don't trust what strangers say in chat/email" is the modern equivalent of "don't accept sweets from strangers".

Answer 7

tell her about the dangers tell her what you think and then if she doesn't listen tell your parents

Answer 8

Don't be too concerned about stirring up c**p. This is serious or at least could be. He could be an old perv. or even a young perv. All he needs is small details about her or her school in conversation that's seems harmless enough and he finds out where you live...its happened. Don't let her get away with this. Tell your parents and they need to maybe take away the computer for a while or have her monitored on computer at all times. Don't take any chances.

Answer 9

tell her stories about a show that you saw on Oprah...or something like that tell her " man wouldnt that be scary if something like that was to happen?? i mean then shell get the point and you would make her start thinking about it...

Answer 10

Jill's right.  I would actually take her advice if I found my sister into something like that.  Even as a parent I would probably have her brother say something first before jumping on her right off that.  Besides sibilings have a way of being able to do it without being as likely to overstep hidden, and unknown boundaries.

Answer 11

True - it could be an old man.  They will act like childen to get to children.  I assume you have also read her 'sent' mails - I would - I do read my daughter's in and out (she is 11).  Have you seen anything from her that would cause alarm?  Is she sending pics or personal information?  If she has just come out and tell her that you have read it.  Then explain to her how dangerous it is.  If she seems innocent, just casually bring up that there are preditors on the net and explain to her that they will act like other kids and send (fake) pics of boys to make her think she is talking to a peer.  Then watch her emails and see if it has an impact.

If she doesn't change the beahvior on her own - then you need to go to your parents.  She will be angry, but later she will see that you were just protecting her.  Good luck - you are a good big brother or siser :)

Answer 12

tell your parents! recently we had a talk about internet use at my school, and what she's doing can be really dangerous. tell your parents to tell her to stop emailing him.