WWYD - DD 16 wants to go to gig with boy she’s never met

[Rollergirl11]

DD is going to a gig in 2 weeks in London. She was supposed to be going with a friend who can no longer go. She has just told me that she has offered the spare ticket to a boy that she talks to on Snapchat. She has never met this boy in person. They have been friends on social media for a few years and they share the same taste in music. They have some mutual friends but these people are not really close friends of DD.

I have said that I’m not happy with her going with someone that she’s never met in person before. I have said that she needs to at least meet up with him for a coffee or a walk or something prior to the gig. DD is reluctant to suggest this as she thinks he will think it’s cringey. Surely this is just basic safety?

Would other parents let their DD do this? She’s having me doubt myself!

To reiterate I am not worried that he will turn out to be a 55 year old predatory man. She has him on both Snapchat and Instagram. She has actual friends that know him in person.

They would be travelling in to London by train together there and back. DD is confident doing this although this would be the first time doing it at night. It’s a straight forward journey involving one change and requires no underground. 5 min walk from the destination station to the venue. When she was going with her other friend I was planning to drop her and pick her up from our station.

I take on board what some people have said that actually meeting for a coffee or a walk beforehand could potentially be more risky than the gig. I hadn’t thought of it like that. But my concern isn’t necessarily for her safety in that he could be a potential predator. It’s more that if things are awkward or they just don’t get on particularly when in person that they then have to spend the entire night together. Or worse still he ditches her and then she is having to fend for herself for the night. I was just thinking that if they at least meet up in Costa or something the week before then they can get a better idea of each other ahead of the gig and actually DD may decide she doesn’t want to go with him and perhaps I could go with her instead.

If they get separated for whatever reason, sounds like her journey home would be fine alone.