My older cousin told me to never give out my real name on AOL chat rooms back in '97. I didn't listen at first.

I was 14 and thought it was cool to be 'Jenny from Seattle' in random chat rooms. Then some guy started messaging me every day, asking what school I went to and if he could call. It freaked me out. I finally made a new screenname and just stuck with 'StarGazer94' after that. Anyone else have an early internet rule they learned the hard way?

2 comments

2 Comments

kellymurphy2d ago

That exact thing happened to my little sister in 2001. She gave out her softball schedule on a message board. It taught me that people online aren't always who they say they are, you know? I see it now with my niece and her social media. The rule is the same, just a different app. We learn to put up a small wall between our real life and the digital one, but it takes a scare to really build it.

reese_lane292d agoMost Upvoted

My friend Jake posted his work address on Facebook and got a weird visit, just like your sister @kellymurphy.