Being a Minor in Online Fandom Spaces
(was asked to put my Bluesky thread on tumblr)
Just because of some stuff I saw yesterday: if you are a minor online, please do not openly identify yourself as such. It is not safe, it allows adults who want to interact with minors for bad purposes to know you are one.
There are different, safer ways to accomplish your goals than to do that.
You do not need to identify yourself publicly as a minor online to:
Ask that people respect your boundaries
Not create or interact with adult material
Not be a victim of harassment
Not give away personal information
All these are normal things anyone of any age can do online.
If you are being invited into spaces you don't want to be in as a minor, or which people have asked you not to be in as a minor, decline for any or no reason. If an adult wants to do something with you they should not with a minor, decline for any or no reason. If people do not accept that, they are not people you should be interacting with. Don't pretend to be an adult, just don't say you aren't.
I understand that recently, more people under 18 tend to say that they are under 18 to protect themselves online. People who are not dangerous don't need that information. People who are dangerous will gladly use it because they know you are vulnerable. You are not protecting yourself.
As an adult who doesn't really care to interact with minors, I probably won't interact a lot with you if you are "young." That's not hard to catch from the way people act online. If you are "young" I care about you being safe and not victimized by opportunists, regardless of your birth year.
Protect your identity and safety on the internet, and if you are a person who is vulnerable, be a mysterious figure. Make silly posts. Complain about "people you know." Complain about "living with your parents."
I know you want to interact online. You have to be safe if you do.
turnnoffyourmind
jacobvanloon
dededos
andulkaphoto
theartofmadeline
