#ENDGAME – Helping parents keep their children safe online
We are seeing more and more children becoming victims of sexual abuse through online games, social networking sites and apps. which they can access through devices including tablets, mobile phones and games consoles.
There has also been a rise in children and young people creating photos and videos of themselves and sharing them online, or with other people via messaging or social media apps, which is often known as ‘sexting’.
We would urge you to talk to you children about their online activity, find out what apps they use, games they like to play and sites they regularly visit, and let them know they can come to you if something they don’t like happens online - whatever that is.
We want to encourage young people to think about the #ENDGAME
The consequences of sharing nude images
There has been an increase in children and young people using phones and tablets to take pictures and videos of themselves to share online or to send to a girlfriend/boyfriend.
Sharing images can also be risky, particularly if it is a semi-nude or nude image or video.
It’s important your child understands what’s OK to share and what they should discuss with you first.
A lot of teenagers don’t realise that whilst ‘sexting’ may be very common, it could also be illegal. It is actually a criminal offence to create and share explicit images of someone under the age of 18, even if it is an image they have taken of themselves, as this will still be classed as creating and distributing an indecent image of a child.
However, in most cases if an incident such as this is reported to us, we will look to educate the teenagers involved, rather than criminalise them, depending on the circumstances.
Our focus is to take action against any perpetrators who share these images without consent once they have been sent them, or use such images for the purposes of abuse, blackmail or exploitation.
We would recommend sitting down with your child and letting them know the risks of ‘sexting’, even if it’s with someone they trust, how easily images can fall into the wrong hands and the consequences it could have on them in the future if the picture ends up online.
Find out more about online abuse and sexting.
We also have some information on deepfakes, which are digitally created and altered content often in the form of fake images, videos and audio recordings, and what to do if your child has been a victim of this.
Who are they really talking to online?
Sadly, not everyone online is who they claim to be. Grooming can happen both in person and online, often by a stranger, but it can also be someone they know.
It can be difficult to tell if your child is being groomed – the signs aren't always obvious and may be hidden.
Some signs to look out for:
- Is your child being secretive about how they're spending their time?
- Do they have an older boyfriend or girlfriend?
- Do they have money or new things like clothes and mobile phones that they can't or won't explain?
- Are they drinking or taking drugs?
- Are they spending more or less time than usual online or on their devices?
- Do they seem upset or withdrawn?
- Are they using sexual language you wouldn’t expect them to know?
- Are they spending more time away from home or going missing for periods of time?
A child won't know they're being groomed, they will trust their abuser who is giving them lots of attention and possibly gifts. Also, their groomer may have warned them not to talk to anyone about it.
Find out more about online grooming.
The issue of consent
Talking to your child about sex and relationships will help them make an informed decision and enable them to recognise if they are being pressured into something they aren’t comfortable with or don’t want to do.
It is important that they know that they can change their mind at any point and withdraw consent for anything sexual.
By discussing issues, such as consent with them, you can help them feel supported and let them know they can come to you if anything has happened to them that they’re upset by.
‘Sextortion’ – what do if you child is being blackmailed online
Online blackmail, also known as 'sextortion', is when someone threatens to publish sexual information, photos or videos about someone.
This may be to extort money from them or to force them to do something against their will. Sometimes they may take photos of film without them realising or consenting.
We are finding more and more that criminal groups are targeting people through dating apps, social media, webcams or pornography sites. They may use a fake identity to befriend a person online and then threaten to send images to their family and friends which causes huge anxiety and distress.
It is important to remember that a child is never to blame if they have been blackmailed online; the reality is it could happen to anyone. the reality is that it could happen to anyone.
Find out more about ‘sextortion, how to report it and what support is available if you child is a victim.
Intimate image abuse
It is illegal to share or threaten to share private, sexual photos or videos of someone without their permission.
This is intimate image abuse, more commonly known as ‘revenge porn’, and it includes sharing images to the internet, via text or email or showing them to someone else.
Reported cases of revenge porn have increased significantly in recent years. The most common reports of revenge porn come from teenagers and those in their mid-20s, according to the
sexual abuse charity, Safeline.
This can have a devastating effect on the victim knowing that their most personal pictures are out there for anyone to see. Especially as they trusted the person who did this to them.
Find out more about ‘revenge porn’ and what to do if your child is a victim.
How to report any concerns to us:
To report any concerns around online criminality, such as grooming or online sexual abuse, you can report it to us via our website or by calling us on 101.