They sent a link along with birthday wishes.

Scenes

• They send a link, saying happy birthday. — It’s an unfamiliar account that saw your birthday was public and sent a coupon link. You can’t close the screen right away, worried it might make you look like someone rejecting the birthday wishes.
• You find yourself typing “Thank you” first. — Before asking who they are, you want to say thank you. Trying to receive the birthday wishes and verify the sender at once leaves no room to say no.
• Before tapping the link, you stopped. — Around eight that morning, you tapped the account name again. The profile was empty, and the link only said to check it by the end of the day.
• Birthday wishes and verification are not the same sentence. — A friendly message doesn’t mean you have to trust the link too. Setting a boundary isn’t closing your heart; it’s taking the time to look at the birthday wishes and your personal information separately.
• Look at the account before replying. — Today, don’t tap the link. Take your time looking only at the sender’s name and activity. Notice, too, whether checking it makes you feel more uneasy.
• Birthday wishes are not an invitation to open the door. — You can choose who gets through the door to your screen and information, even while accepting the birthday wishes. If that link stays on your mind, next time we can start by looking there together.