An Introduction to Online Relationships

Image of Myleene Klass
Myleene Klass Advocate of protecting children on the internet
Webinar 2min

The internet's ability to connect us with others who share our values, our sense of humour or our interests is a benefit that also has to be treated cautiously: after all, these are very often people who we ONLY know online. In this short explainer video presented by Myleene Klass, we examine online relationships - and how understanding them (and the associated risks) is key to safeguarding children and young people in the digital world.

CPD Certified

An online relationship is between people who have met online and in most cases only know each other via the internet. They can be formed with anyone across the world, throughout different cultures and backgrounds, and tend to be created through a common interest or shared experience.

While some of these friendships can be positive, there are a number of risks associated with developing relationships online and children and young people trusting other people they may never have met in real life.

For this reason, it’s important to teach children and young people to understand the differences and risks that developing an online relationship can bring in comparison to developing an offline relationship, and how to engage with the online world to ensure they remain safe and protected.

This webinar is presented by broadcaster and online safety advocate Myleene Klass. Its content has been developed in collaboration with our expert Heather Cardwell, a practising online safety lead who is CEOP (Child Exploitation Online Protection) trained.