The online world is an integral part of young people’s lives, but it does not always make its risks obvious. Unlike dangers we encounter offline, online harm rarely comes with warning labels or clear red flags. The risks young people face online are often hidden, which is why it is so important to make signs of danger easier to recognise and avoid.
Parents who feel powerless when it comes to keeping their children safe from online harm no longer have to be. They can make a significant impact on their children’s safety simply by overseeing where digital technology is used in the home. Many groomers perceive the presence of parents as an increased risk of being detected. Keeping your child safe online can therefore look as follows:
What is child sexual abuse and exploitation? If you don’t know the answer, how can you expect your child to? One of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your child is to understand the signs of grooming, non-consensual intimate imagery, and sexual extortion. These conversations may be difficult, but we cannot assume that schools will cover everything related to grooming, sextortion, or online abuse. Making your child aware of the warning signs and how to recognise them reassures both you and your child that they are equipped with the knowledge to respond to potentially risky situations.
Starting a conversation about a topic you don’t feel confident discussing can be challenging. Finding the right moment to address difficult subjects can also be hard. However, it is worthwhile understanding how schools and parental communities handle cases of CSA and CSAM. Creating open dialogue is critical, as it makes future conversations easier and helps raise awareness of existing risks.
Tip: Teach your child to come to you for help straight away, rather than trying to deal with it on their own.
You need to teach your children basic ground rules for using the internet:
It is critical to teach your child how to stay safe online, but it is just as important to teach them to look out for others in the digital space. Even though online interactions may feel different from offline ones, there is still a real person behind every screen. Online bullying can have the same harmful impact as bullying offline. Teach your children to behave respectfully online in the same way they would in real life.
While you can choose to wait until your child reaches a certain age to give them a device, giving them access without guidance is like handing over the keys to a car without teaching them how to drive. Knowing what you are giving them is just as important as deciding when.
Check that the security features on your family’s devices are properly configured. Review privacy settings on social media profiles; use webcam covers on laptops and PCs; and consider setting up additional parental controls on your children’s devices. When appropriate, try to do these things together rather than simply imposing rules. Your child is more likely to understand and follow them if you clearly explain your reasoning.
Tip: You can easily improve the safety of any digital device by using a camera cover.
Whether it’s a friend from school or someone they play with on 4chan, a friend is a friend, and it is just as important to engage with your children about their online friendships as their offline ones.
Signs of a risky friendship:
This is a complex subject, and if you find it difficult to talk to your child about sexual abuse, consider how they may be feeling. Talk about online risks, but listen just as much as you speak. Remember, your child may have more insight into leaked self-generated content than you do. Never minimise what they share. Whether or not you are personally concerned is not the point—if they raise something with you, take it seriously. Many cases of abuse go unnoticed because victims feel they will not be believed or taken seriously. It is your responsibility to show that you will.
Try not to blame or scare your child about images they may have shared. This can be difficult when you are worried, but reacting this way can increase feelings of shame and isolation, making them less likely to seek help if something goes wrong. Keep checking in. Regular, open conversations about technology help your child feel safe talking to you about their online experiences.
Are you concerned that your child may be involved in sexually abusing or exploiting another child? Get them help. This is not about covering things up out of embarrassment or fear. It is essential that they understand their actions are wrong and that they receive appropriate support to stop them.
Talk to your child about their responsibility towards others online. Thorn’s study showed that between 9% and 20% of teens admit to re-sharing someone else’s intimate images, meaning your child is just as likely to be a perpetrator as a victim.
Don’t only talk about physical sex - talk about digital sex as well, and explain how online content does not reflect real life. Pornography is widespread, and the level of access currently available means the average teenager has seen pornography by the age of 12. This early desensitisation to sexual content is not natural. While some platforms are beginning to introduce age-verification measures, we are still far from having effective safeguards in place. Beyond the risk of online sexual abuse or exploitation, discuss the potential long-term emotional and physical harm caused to victims, families, and communities.
How safe is your child online? As a parent or guardian, understanding how to supervise your child’s online activity can be challenging. Test your knowledge with our online safety quiz.
It is well known that prevention is better than cure. This means it is easier to stop harm before it occurs than to repair the damage afterward - particularly when tackling child sexual abuse (CSA) and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Prevention is not only about stopping harm before it happens, but also about creating alternative ways to address and reduce risk. Share this resource within your community and help spread awareness. Explore our additional resources below:
