Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“Is there a group chat or online group that honestly feels like home to you?”
What to listen for
A genuine, warm answer shows they have a real sense of belonging somewhere that's entirely theirs, that matters even if you never see it, and treating it with respect rather than suspicion keeps that trust open with you.
If they hesitate, they might be unsure whether you'll judge the space or the people in it, reassure them with your tone, not your words, that you're just curious, not investigating.
If they say no group feels that way, that's worth knowing gently, it might mean they're craving that kind of belonging and haven't found it yet.
What this tells you
This shows you where they currently feel most unconditionally accepted, which is valuable to know even if it lives outside anything you can see directly.