How can people protect themselves from online stranger danger based on these stories?
First, be aware of the information you put out there. In the story of the person looking for a roommate, they should have been more careful not to disclose too much about their daily routine. Second, trust your instincts. If a conversation with an online stranger starts to feel off, end it. For instance, the user on the forum who was scared by the stranger who knew their location should have cut off communication earlier. Also, use privacy settings on social media and other platforms to limit who can see your information and contact you.
One important thing is to be cautious when accepting friend requests or new contacts. Just like the young woman on social media who got harassed after accepting a stranger's request. Also, if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, block them immediately. In the case of the teen whose music was stolen, if he had been more careful about sharing his work with a complete stranger, it wouldn't have happened. And don't be easily lured by offers that seem too good to be true, such as the boy who lost money buying non - existent electronics from a stranger.
