Sadly some young people have met up with people they thought they knew on the internet and have ended up being hurt - see for example www.chatdanger.com. So remember the old "stranger = danger" rule, even if you've been chatting to someone for a long time who doesn't feel like a stranger.

There are lots of stories about how people have made real friends through the internet and this has obviously involved meeting up face to face after chatting on line. However, it is important to remember that people may not be who they say they are and both young people and adults can be fooled into meeting someone who they might not wish to meet. Take a trusted adult with you for support.

There are a number of excellent safe website resources which allow you to connect to others in a protected environment which is moderated. See for example www.gridclub.com.