Secret Lives of Teens Online

At 16, I was preparing to leave home and meet a man I had met through an online game. I had been talking to him for months, and although some of his behavior made me uncomfortable, I didn’t fully understand that I was being groomed.

Then I told my mother.

In this episode, I share the conversation that became the beginning of the end of my double life online. Instead of reacting with anger, punishment, or fear, my mother stayed calm, asked thoughtful questions, and made me feel safe enough to keep talking. That conversation helped me recognize the manipulation I had been experiencing and ultimately kept me from meeting an online predator.

I also explore how this moment shaped my approach to online grooming prevention, parent-teen communication, and the SAFE Method: Safe Spaces, Accountability, Fun, and Empathy.

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/projects 

Need 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/about

Major kudos to you for joining the moms staying ahead of the game!

Why do teens hide parts of their online lives from their parents...even when they are loved, supported, and cared for?

In this first episode, I (CyberFareedah) share my personal story of living a double life online, being groomed as a child, and feeling unable to talk to my parents about what I was experiencing. I explore why traditional internet safety conversations can make teens feel judged, monitored, or misunderstood and how parents can create more honest, connected conversations about social media, gaming, online relationships, and digital safety.

This episode is an invitation for teens, preteens, and parents to listen together and begin talking about what often goes unsaid.

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/projects 

Need 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/about

Major kudos to you for joining the moms staying ahead of the game!