for all the young people out there, who are currently being groomed, or think they are, please hear me out with this post.

I grew up on the Internet. I was groomed for the first time at 11 years old. I spoke to predators online for years and I loved the attention from them. I often was showered with free gifts, money, compliments from older men. I honestly always thought that the special guys were different, the ones that I had a deep connection with and didn't always want sexual stuff.

the truth is, no one who takes advantage of a child is special. you may think it's because you're "mature", but he is a predator. one day, when you are older, you'll look back and see how sick these people that you spoke to are. you'll say "I would never talk to someone that much younger than me, that's a child". you'll finally understand how disgusting it was and how you wish you could have your childhood back. how bad you wish you could have been normal and had your innocence.

and the worst part is, if you meet a bad predator, they will follow you. it's easy once you know someone's full name to find them online. there are websites, for example, truepeoplesearch.com that will show you addresses, phone numbers, and family members for most people. you can't have social media or LinkedIn without the chance of the predator finding you. legal action is hard if you've never met them irl and you didn't keep evidence. oh and forget it if they live in a different state.

please, stop letting these evil people take advantage of you. block them, your future self will thank you.