Children today are growing up in a world of smart phones, tablets, online gaming and other hi-tech gadgets. Using these devices from an early age, they have access to an online environment that is rich and full of opportunity.
The online world helps connect us like never before, but it is also important to be aware of the risks and dangers. While children might seem completely safe while immersed on their devices at home, the web can represent a very real danger.
Online threats to children and young people
If the safety settings on devices and apps are not applied robustly, children can quickly find themselves exposed to unsuitable and unsettling content such as pornography, violence and gambling. Advice and guidance about safety settings can be found on the NSPCC website.
But children are also at risk of being targeted and sexually abused and exploited through apps and social media. Online grooming crimes within the last few years have reached record levels across the UK, with offences recorded by police forces in 2023/24 topping over 7,000 for the first time. This is up by a shocking 89% since 2017/18 when sexual communication with a child online was first officially recognised as an offence.
While girls are being predominantly targeted by offenders, making up the majority of online grooming cases (81% in 2023/24), it seems boys are often at the receiving end of sextortion crimes, where children are blackmailed and threatened to share sexual images.
The impact of online abuse on children
Often with these cases there is a feeling of shame and humiliation, as well as the fear of being punished and judged, which can often prevent targeted young people from asking for help.
The emotional impact of online abuse crimes on children and young people can be traumatic and long-lasting with many feeling guilt, shame and depression. For many children this can lead to larger problems such as self-harm, eating disorders and even suicide.
What can parents do?
Parents can do a lot to help their children navigate the online world safely, and that can start with regular, non-judgemental conversations with their children about what they are doing online.
It is also important to remind children to not share private things online, such as personal information, links to join private group chats, and sexual photos or videos of themselves.
It is also very important to setup devices for children with parental controls and safety settings. You can find out more about how to do that on the NSPCC website, which has a huge wealth of advice dedicated to protecting children online.
For the youngest children taking their first steps into the online world, there’s Techosaurus – the online safety dinosaur who, along with an activity pack and some simple messaging, shares vital information in age-appropriate language.
The NSPCC Helpline, 0808 800 5000, is free to call for parents, carers and teachers whenever they need advice with regards to child online safety.
What can children do?
If children or young people have any fears or worries about the online world, there are lots of resources available.
Simple measures can include blocking and reporting on social media, and the Childline website has lots of tips and advice including on mobile phone safety but also the Report Remove, which is a tool that enables young people to self-report sexual images of themselves, which they think may have been shared online.
Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 at any time if they have any fears or worries about the online world.