Turn down a friend request from a stranger

Step by step

1. Click the Start button! Look at the bottom of this practice computer: the dark strip there is its taskbar. In the middle of it, click the Start button (four blue squares). The main menu opens just above it. If you see two taskbars, use the one inside this page.
2. Click "Browser". In the menu that opened, click the "Browser" tile (a square with a small picture and its name under it): the app opens in its own window.
3. Go to . Click in the address bar at the top, type and press Enter. It is a practice social network: made-up people, nothing is really shared.
4. Open "Friend requests". At the top of the page, click "Friend requests". A red number shows how many people are waiting for your answer.
5. Open the profile of Victor Hale. Click "View profile" under Victor Hale: you don't know him. Always look at the profile before you answer.
6. Click "Decline request". Read the clues: he joined 3 days ago, he has only 12 friends, none in common with you, no posts, and his About promises to "double your savings". That is a typical scammer. Click "Decline request". He is not told.
7. Confirm Grace Wilson. Grace Wilson is different: 8 friends in common, a profile since 2014, and she is your neighbor. Click "Confirm" under her name.
8. Close this window. You are done with this window, so close it: click the ✕ button at the top right corner of the "Browser" window (on its title bar, the strip at the top). The window disappears.

These steps are written for SafePC, a pretend Windows-style computer in your web browser. On your own computer, the buttons and menus may look a little different, but the idea is the same.

More lessons in Social media, safely

• Sign in and look around
• Post a photo to "Family only"
• Check your privacy settings
• Hide your birthday and phone number
• Report a fake profile and block it