When something online feels wrong — a message, a video, something a person said — your body knows
before your brain can fully explain it. That feeling is called a signal.
It doesn't mean something is definitely wrong. It means: this is worth talking about with a grown-up.
The skill isn't "never go online." The skill is:
notice when something feels off — and tell someone you trust.
You won't get in trouble for telling. Telling is exactly the right thing to do.
🔍 What "feels weird" might feel like
"Feels weird" is different for everyone. Your body gives you signals. Here are some common ones:
😬
Your stomach feels tight
Like butterflies, but not the good kind
😰
You want to close the screen fast
Something in you says: get away from this
🤔
Something seems wrong but you can't say why
You don't know exactly what — but something is off
😕
You feel confused or a little scared
The message, image, or video doesn't seem right
🤫
Someone tells you not to tell anyone
If someone online says "keep this secret" — that's a very big signal
💔
It felt mean, strange, or just "off"
You're not sure what to do about it
You don't need to be sure. If you're unsure about something, that's already a reason to tell.
"I'm not sure about this — can you look at it with me?" is a perfect thing to say.
🪜 Three steps to follow
Notice. Pay attention to how you feel when you're online.
If your body gives you a signal — tight stomach, wanting to close the screen, feeling
confused or scared — don't push the feeling away. It's there for a reason.
Name it. You don't need a perfect explanation.
"Something felt weird" is enough. "I saw something and I'm not sure about it" works perfectly too.
Tell a grown-up. Go to someone on your safe grown-up list.
You can show them the screen, describe what happened, or just say the words in the box below.
🗣️ What to say
"Something online felt weird. Can you look at it with me?"
Say this with your child three times. Then have them say it alone. Keep it calm — this should feel like a normal, useful sentence.
Remember your safe grown-up list?
If you did the "Who is my safe grown-up?" activity — this is exactly when you use it.
Go to one of those people. If your first person isn't available, go to the next person on your list.
Any safe grown-up on your list is the right person to tell.
🎮 Practice together
Read each situation out loud. Ask your child: "Would this give you a weird feeling? What would you do?"
Situation 1: You're playing an online game and a player you've never met messages you asking for your real name and your school.
This is a weird-feeling situation. Tell a grown-up right away — don't answer the message.
Situation 2: You see a video of someone being really mean to another kid. It makes you feel upset and uncomfortable.
Upset feelings about online content are worth talking about. Tell a grown-up what you saw.
Situation 3: A message pops up saying you've won a prize, but something about it seems off. You're not sure if it's real.
"I'm not sure" is enough reason to show a grown-up before clicking anything.
Situation 4: You watched a video and it seemed normal, but afterward you just felt a bit strange — you can't explain why.
Even "I feel weird and I don't know why" is worth saying out loud to a grown-up.
✅ What happens when you tell
You won't get in trouble.
Telling a grown-up when something feels weird is not a mistake — it is the right thing to do.
Grown-ups want to know. They're not going to be angry. They're going to be glad you told them.
Your grown-up will look at it with you.
They might say "You're right, let's block that" — or "I think that's okay, here's why."
Either way, you did exactly the right thing by asking.
The more times you tell, the easier it gets — and the safer you'll be.
⭐
The Brave Spotter Award
Give a sticker every time your child notices a weird feeling and tells you about it —
even if it turns out to be nothing. The noticing and the telling is the whole skill.
The sticker is for being brave enough to say "something felt off" — not for being right about it.
🌱 Signs it's working
Your child comes to you with "something felt weird" — including about small things.
They can describe what a weird feeling feels like in their body.
They say the phrase without being prompted: "Can you look at this with me?"
They don't hide things online because they're worried about getting in trouble.
Keep the door open: The goal is for your child to always feel comfortable
bringing online weirdness to you — not just big scary things. A low-stakes "that seemed weird,
want to look?" moment now makes high-stakes disclosure much easier later.