LIFE

Dear Carol,

This guy and I made friends online and I sent him photos I shouldn’t have, and he immediately said I had to send him money or else he would post them. I finally had to tell my parents and they got the police involved. I feel so stupid and embarrassed.

- Ashamed

Dear Ashamed,

I’m so sorry that this predator took advantage of you. Awful. You aren’t alone. People of all ages get confused when they log on and someone says something they want to hear, but then starts making inappropriate demands. People send photos and gift cards and bank numbers and lose all common sense. Fortunately, we live and learn—and you’ll never be that naive again. Try to put this incident behind you, head held high. You were wise to alert your parents who, thank heavens, were there for you. Now, by writing me, you’re helping to warn and remind other girls that when online strangers seem too good to be true, they are. You’re a good person, and you can forgive yourself. For added closure, consider leaving a note under your parents’ door, something like: “I learned a lot—including how lucky I am to have you as my parents.” Know that this too shall pass, and you’ve grown wiser from the experience.

Carol Weston is the author of 16 books, including Girltalk, Ava and Pip and Speed of Life, a novel about a 14-year-old girl who writes to an advice columnist. Carol's audiobooks are on Spotify. More at carolweston.com and on Instagram @carolwestonnyc.

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by GL | 11/7/2024