25/09/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ey6LokVFn/
It can start with an online game—and a stranger posing as a friend.
Financial literacy coach MJ Aguilar raised the warning in an August Facebook post, urging parents to look beyond the apps their children use and pay attention to who they talk to—and where those conversations go.
Here are the red flags Aguilar said parents should watch out for.
THEY GET CLOSE FAST
An online friendship that becomes unusually personal or emotionally close very quickly can be a grooming red flag.
THEY TAKE THE CHAT PRIVATE
Watch for someone moving conversations from a public game into private messages, calls, or other platforms.
THEY START SENDING GIFTS
Unexplained virtual gifts can be used to build trust or create a sense of obligation.
YOUR CHILD BECOMES SECRETIVE
Sudden secrecy around devices, messages, or online activity is worth paying attention to.
YOUR CHILD IS AFRAID TO LEAVE ONLINE GROUPS
Pressure, threats, or fear of leaving a group can signal that a child feels trapped in an online relationship.
YOUR CHILD’S BEHAVIOR SUDDENLY CHANGES
Changes in mood, sleep, friendships, or daily routines can be signs that something is happening online.
AVOID IMMEDIATE PUNISHMENT
Aguilar urged parents not to respond with immediate punishment if something seems wrong, warning that children may hide more if they fear losing their gadgets or being scolded.
Instead, he suggested starting with reassurance: “Hindi kita papagalitan. Gusto ko lang malaman kung may nangpe-pressure, nananakot, or nagpapagawa sa iyo ng uncomfortable online.”
If the stranger starts making threats or pressuring the child, Aguilar advised parents not to negotiate. Instead, preserve the messages and account details, cut off further contact when safe, report the account, and seek help from the proper authorities.
Aguilar said parents don’t have to read every message their child sends to keep them safe. What matters more, he said, is building enough trust for children to speak up when something online no longer feels safe.
“The first line of protection isn’t surveillance,” he wrote. “It’s trust.”
Aguilar’s warning comes amid growing concerns over child safety on platforms such as Roblox.
In June, Dubai-based Filipino content creator Shiela Mhoi shared videos about her son, who allegedly received a “task” from another Roblox user and was promised a “trophy” for completing it.
Mhoi said she shared the incident to remind parents to monitor their children’s online activity, rather than to blame Roblox itself.
(✍️: radar Lifestyle)