What are online relationships?

Online relationships are friendships or connections you make with people you don’t see every day, just like how you might chat with a friend at recess, but they live on the other side of town.

Imagine you have a toy phone that lets you talk to someone far away. That’s kind of what online relationships feel like, except instead of a toy phone, you use computers, phones, or even tablets to chat with friends who are somewhere else.

Online relationships happen when people send messages, play games, or share photos over the internet. It's like having a special letter box that only works with your friend’s letter box, and instead of letters, you get messages, drawings, or even videos!

Sometimes, friends live far away, or they go to different schools. But they still want to stay connected. So they use the internet like a magic bridge (but not too magical) that lets them talk and play together, just like you might share your snacks with someone at lunchtime, even if they're sitting across the room.