When people are nice, it means that they like you. When making a new friend, choose someone who is nice to you. What Do People Do When They Want to Be Your Friend? When people are nice, they may look at you and smile. They may use words to let you know that they enjoy being with you, such as "I like hanging out with you." People who like spending time with you will say yes when you ask them to do something. If they're busy and say no, they might suggest a better time to do something together (like after school or on another day). What if People Don't Want to Be Your Friend? Just as people give clues when they like being with you, they also give clues when they don't want to spend time with you. Someone who doesn't want to be with you will: turn away from you not look you in the eye not smile at you say no every time you ask him or her to do something together tell you with words that he or she doesn't want to be with you (example: "I don't want to play with you.") If someone doesn't want to play or be your friend, that's OK. Leave that person alone. Go find someone else to be with who wants to be your friend. How Can I Tell When Someone's Being Mean? Sometimes people are mean. They may: talk when you're talking roll their eyes at you not include you in activities call you names tell you to go away hit or hurt you People who act this way are called bullies. Are They Laughing at Me or With Me? People who bully may laugh when you're around — but it's not because they're being nice. They may be laughing at you, instead of with you. So, how can you tell the difference? Someone who is laughing with you enjoys being your friend. After you tell a joke, they will laugh or say, "That's funny!" or "That's a good one!" Someone who is being mean and laughing at you may roll their eyes and laugh or look at someone else and laugh. They may not let you finish talking before they begin laughing. What Should I Do About It? If someone is mean to you, leave right away. If someone is mean to you on social media, in email, or in texts, don't respond. Tell an adult you trust what happened. Someone like your parent, teacher, or coach can help you figure out what to do next. Sometimes just ignoring a person who is being mean can help a lot. Choose to spend time with people who are nice to you. Don't spend time with people who are mean. Back to Articles Related Articles Making Friends: Answers for Teens With Autism You might want to make new friends, but aren’t sure how to do it. This article for teens with autism can help. Read More What to Say: Answers for Teens With Autism Knowing what to say comes naturally for some people, but others need some help. Here’s advice for teens who want to learn how to get along with people. Read More Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism spectrum disorder can make communicating and interacting with other people difficult. Find out more. Read More Taking Care of Your Body: Answers for Boys With Autism When you're a teen, your body changes — this is part of growing up. You will have to learn new routines to keep yourself clean and healthy. Here's what to expect. Read More Taking Care of Your Body: Answers for Girls With Autism Learning to take care of your body is part of growing up. Here's what you need to do to keep your body clean and healthy. Read More Your Changing Body: Answers for Boys With Autism When you're a teen, your body changes. This part of growing up. It's called puberty. Here's what to expect. Read More Your Changing Body: Answers for Girls With Autism Now that you're older, your body may be changing. This is a normal part of growing up. Here's what's going on. Read More Cyberbullying Using technology to bully is a problem that's on the rise. The good news is awareness of how to prevent cyberbullying is growing even faster. See our tips on what to do. Read More Dealing With Bullying Bullying has everyone worried, not just the people on its receiving end. Learn about dealing with bullies, including tips on how to stand up for yourself or a friend. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.