Parents and Carers: The trust trap – navigating friendships, pressure and manipulation online

Children and young people experience subtle forms of online manipulation that can shape their friendships, identity and wellbeing. Behaviours like exclusion, controlling dynamics, and emotionally loaded “just joking” interactions are common and may be difficult to spot. This webinar unpacks online manipulative behaviours and harmful friendships dynamics. This webinar is also designed for parents and carers to watch alongside their teen, supporting a shared understanding of these behaviours and encouraging meaningful conversations at home. In this webinar parents, carers and teens will:

• learn the common signs of online manipulation and understand the challenges young people face with friendships online

• understand the common harmful friendship dynamics and why young people may may feel trapped, responsible or unable to set boundaries

• gain simple, practical strategies to start supportive conversations, help their child set healthy online boundaries and feel safer navigating digital friendships.