Learning these terms and definitions will help you!
Block and Report: Tools on most apps or games that let you stop someone from contacting you and notify the platform that their behavior is unsafe or inappropriate.
Emotional Dependence: When someone relies too much on another person for their happiness, support, or sense of safety, like saying “you’re the only one who understands me” or making you feel like it’s your job to fix their problems.
Emotional Pressure: When someone makes you feel responsible for their emotions or safety, or tries to make you feel guilty for saying no or setting boundaries.
Gaming Community: A group of people connected through a game or platform online, including people you know and strangers.
Manipulation: When someone tries to control your actions or feelings through guilt, fear, flattery, or pressure, often without you realizing it.
Personal Information: Details about you, such as your full name, school, location, phone number, or photos, or anything that could help someone identify or contact you in real life.
Red Flag: A warning sign that something may not be safe, respectful, or honest. This can look like asking for personal info, secrecy, or pushing boundaries.
Secrecy: When someone asks you to keep something hidden or not tell anyone, especially if they say “this stays between us.” Secrecy can be a warning sign if it’s used to hide unsafe behavior.
Sponsorship: A real or fake offer to support you in gaming (or other activities), often used in grooming tactics to gain trust or control.
Trafficker: A person who tricks, pressures, or forces someone into doing things that they don’t want to do, like work or sex, usually to make money or gain control over them.
Trusted Adult: A parent, teacher, counselor, or other grown-up you can go to when something online (or offline) feels uncomfortable or unsafe.