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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Im worried - skype calls/text

8 replies

catkin14 · 30/06/2013 19:48

I need some advice for this one please, this is new ground for me.

I have a 14yr old DS, he will be 15 in november. He is tall and goodlooking, outgoing etc.
My Exh and I split in march after a long marriage, and although my DS on the whole seems ok (despite Exh being a total idiot).
LAst week he got talking to a girl on skype via Minecraft. Originally she said she was 19, but then changed to 16. She is in USA.
Over a few days he became a very different DS, on his ipod all the time messaging, very secretive and snappy.
I was worried so, and this is shameful but I felt I had to given his age, looked at his skype messages between this girl and him.
I was shocked to say the least, she asked him if he was circumcised and that if he wasnt she wouldnt 'put it in her mouth or her hand but would still fuck him'.
I talked to him about this, without saying I had read his skype messages because i was very concerned that this was someone actually a lot older than she said.
I felt the chat we had went well and that he understood the dangers of talking to people you really dont know.
He is now talking to this girl on skype again, I wouldnt have a problem with this if I hadnt read some of the things she had said.
I have asked him if his girlfriend knows about this other girl and he says she does.
I am alone due to marriage break up, although EXH would have been totally useless) and I dont know what to do.
I dont want to have to ban him from skype, but I think he is very flattered by the attention, she is a very attractive girl by the look of her picture.
What do i do?? I also know that saying no to a teenager is like red rag to a bull..!
Help!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 30/06/2013 21:32

'she' is a paedophile of one gender or the other. 'she' does not look like the picture.

your boy needs to learn FAST about internet safety and that there are bad people out there. Of course he is flattered, he is hormones on legs and thinks a gorgeous girl wants him.

catkin14 · 30/06/2013 21:50

He sees her on skype, they are face to face as it were because their computers have webcams.
Is it possible to manipulate an image?? : 9

OP posts:
specialsubject · 01/07/2013 13:10

um. Not sure but probably.

does it matter? this person changes their stated age and is making sexual propositions to a minor. Get it stopped now.

livinginwonderland · 01/07/2013 14:57

I don't mean to make this sound petty but I'm 24 and I did this a teen. It was because nobody in real life had spoken to me about the "dangers" of the internet and I was a teen who was curious about sex. I'm betting that most of the people I spoke to were teens in the same or similar positions. I spoke to most of them on webcam and they were bored teenagers with nothing better to do.

It wasn't anything sinister and there was nothing "dangerous" in it for me or for the other teens. You have good reason to be worried about your DS if his behaviour has changed so dramatically (and I'm betting his girlfriend doesn't know about any of it, because if she did, she sure as hell wouldn't be happy with it!)

I'm just saying, please don't jump to the conclusion that your son is talking to some paedophile somewhere. Most people your teenagers will encounter on video games/chat sites are teenagers too, who are probably bored, curious and naive. It's especially easy to develop bonds with someone who's from a " foreign" country and is therefore automatically more interesting!

reggiebean · 01/07/2013 15:03

Agree with living. I'm 25, and definitely had some naughty chats online where I fully intended to never meet the person in real life. The way I thought of it was, "It was a bit of fun, and I wouldn't get hurt." I don't think my mum ever spoke to me about internet safety, but I knew better than to give my home address out, personal details, etc.

Without banning him from the internet, or mentioning that you read his messages (which would only make him want to do it more to get back at you), just have a general chat with him about anyone being anyone on the internet, and personal safety (home address, school details, etc.) and keep an eye on him after that.

catkin14 · 02/07/2013 21:35

Thanks for replies.
I found out some very explicit pictures were sent from her to him.
I hope I have dealt with it but will be keeping a close eye.

I dont want to loose him but I need to know he is safe, as far as possible.

OP posts:
livinginwonderland · 02/07/2013 21:40

If she's underage and her parents find out, your DS could be in trouble there. Talking is one thing, but explicit pictures are a whole new kettle of fish. Make sure he knows how much trouble you can get into for sending/recieving underage nud/explicit photos.

specialsubject · 03/07/2013 11:27

indeed.

if he is outgoing, suggest he goes out and meets some people who aren't on the other side of the planet, and aren't twisted little exhibitionists.

sorry - it is NOT normal to send porn pictures of yourself. I don't care if they 'all do it', it is NOT normal.

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