Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“Is there someone online you've never actually met who you feel genuinely connected to?”
What to listen for
Ask this with real curiosity, not suspicion, if they open up, it means they trust you not to immediately judge or worry about the friendship just because it's online.
If they describe the connection with real detail, shared interests, inside jokes, consistent conversations, take it seriously as a real relationship to them, even if the format feels unfamiliar to you.
If they get guarded, it might be because online friendships often get dismissed by adults; reassure them you're just interested, not building toward a rule change.
What this tells you
This tells you where they're finding real understanding and belonging, even in spaces you can't fully see into.