Online Harm
Online Harm
Online abuse can happen anywhere through the following types of digital communication:
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- Social media
- Text messages and messaging apps
- Email and private messaging
- Online chats
- Through commenting on videos or livestreaming
- Chatting in online games, including voice chat
- Technologies such as virtual and augmented reality
How can I stay safe online?
There are lots of ways that you can stay safe online.
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- Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number. Don't tell people your last name, the name of your school, sports teams, and the town you live in.
- Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself, they might be there forever! Before uploading a photo, think about how you would feel if it was seen by a parent or grandparent, a friend’s parent, a teacher or future employer. If you wouldn’t want any of those people to see this photo – then don’t put it on the internet
- Only accept people you know and trust as friends.
- Never give out your passwords.
- Cover your webcam, whenever you’re not using it.
- Never get together with someone you meet online. If you have only met them in the “internet world” then you don’t know who they really are, people can pretend to be anyone and any age. Speak to your parent or carer about this if people inline are suggesting you do this.
- Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are.
- If something online makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the device and tell a trusted adult.
- Be honest about your age - membership rules are there to protect you. If you are too young to sign up, don’t lie about your age.
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Online Harm Group - Com Groups
Online Harm Group - Com Groups
Online harm groups (you may have heard these called ‘Com Groups’, short for community) are groups of people who use online spaces to manipulate, control, threaten or exploit others. They often operate through messaging apps, gaming communities, channels or servers.
Group members aim to gain status and reputation by posting evidence to the rest of the group of how they can manipulate and cause harm to others; competing to see who can cause the most harm or humiliation. Their activity is often illegal and may include coercing young people to do things such as:
- injuring themselves or others
- sharing nude or sexual images of themselves
- causing injury to siblings or pets
- doing sexual things
- recording or livestreaming these things
Both those targeted and those committing offences are mostly under 18.
3 things to remember
- Making contact
- Starting a chat
- Talking about shared interests, games or experiences
- Asking you to join a channel or server
Building trust
- Chatting often
- Giving compliments, emotional support, or special attention
This may then turn in to:
- Getting information or material
- Asking for personal details
- Encouraging nude or sexual image sharing
- Pressuring you to harm yourself or others and recording it
- Learning about your worries, secrets, friendships, or family life
- Asking you to keep chats, images or videos you’ve shared secret from others
Blackmail and threats;
- Using gathered information, images or recordings as pressure
- Demanding that you send more images or videos of sexual or harmful acts
- Asking you to do increasingly harmful things to yourself or others Making you feel afraid of what might happen if you don’t do what you’re asked
Recognising pressure;
Online harm groups use pressure to blackmail, threaten and hurt. Pressure may look like:
- Being rushed into making a decision
- Being dared to prove yourself
- Being made to feel guilty for saying no or leaving
- Being threatened or blackmailed
- Being told to keep secrets
- Being pushed to do things that make you uncomfortable
- Being repeatedly contacted after you've tried to stop the conversation
Feeling pressured can be a warning sign that something is wrong. You never have to stay in a chat, group or friendship where someone is pressuring you. It may feel difficult to leave a group or chat, especially if you feel worried others won’t understand or will judge you.
Remember, trust how you feel. Pressure → leave.
Getting help
If you have been harmed or are worried about the way someone has been communicating with you online:
- Leave the chat or group
- Avoid deleting anything that could be used as evidence
- If you feel you can, tell an adult you trust what has happened
- Report what has happened to the police by calling 101 or 999 if there is a risk of immediate harm
- Under 18s can also contact the NCA’s CEOP Safety Centre
Report it
If you are under 18, report online sexual abuse to one of our Child Protection Advisors at the CEOP Safety Centre.
Report now
If you're over 18, call 101 to speak to your local police.
In an emergency
If you're ever in immediate harm or danger:
- Call the police on 999 straight away
- Tell an adult you trust who will be able to support you through a difficult time
Find out more information and watch the Online Harm Com Group information video here.
Sending Nudes
Sending Nudes
Sexting is when someone shares sexual, naked or semi-naked images or videos of themselves or others, or sends sexual messages. It's online abuse if a child or young person is pressured or coerced into creating or sending these types of images. (NSPCC)
Has someone asked you to send a nude?
Sending nudes
What is sexting? - BBC Bitesize
Online Blackmail
Online Blackmail
Online blackmail
Cyberbullying- What is it?
When should I report my concerns
When should I report my concerns?
You should report your concerns if;
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- Someone you are talking to online does or says something that makes you feel upset
- You are worried or uncomfortable,
- Someone is asking you to do things that you don’t want to,
- You see something that you don’t like.
It can be difficult to spot when building friendships or relationships online turns into something harmful. These chats may be no different at first, seeming fun, friendly and supportive.
Online harm groups often start by building trust, making the person feel safe before starting to pressure and then force them to harm themselves or others.
It is never a young person’s fault if a friendship or relationship they have built online turns out to be someone seeking to harm them.
At first this may look like:
Making contact
Starting a chat
Talking about shared interests, games or experiences
Asking you to join a channel or server
Building trust
Chatting often
Giving compliments, emotional support, or special attention
This may then turn in to:
Getting information or material
Asking for personal details
Encouraging nude or sexual image sharing
Pressuring you to harm yourself or others and recording it
Learning about your worries, secrets, friendships, or family life
Asking you to keep chats, images or videos you’ve shared secret from others
Blackmail and threats
Using gathered information, images or recordings as pressure
Demanding that you send more images or videos of sexual or harmful acts
Asking you to do increasingly harmful things to yourself or others
Making you feel afraid of what might happen if you don’t do what you’re asked
Recognising pressure
Online harm groups use pressure to blackmail, threaten and hurt. Pressure may look like:
Being rushed into making a decision
Being dared to prove yourself
Being made to feel guilty for saying no or leaving
Being threatened or blackmailed
Being told to keep secrets
Being pushed to do things that make you uncomfortable
Being repeatedly contacted after you've tried to stop the conversation
Feeling pressured can be a warning sign that something is wrong. You never have to stay in a chat, group or friendship where someone is pressuring you.
It may feel difficult to leave a group or chat, especially if you feel worried others won’t understand or will judge you.
Remember, trust how you feel. Pressure → leave.
Getting help
If you have been harmed or are worried about the way someone has been communicating with you online:
Leave the chat or group
Avoid deleting anything that could be used as evidence
If you feel you can, tell an adult you trust what has happened
Report what has happened to the police by calling 101 or 999 if there is a risk of immediate harm
Under 18s can also contact the NCA’s CEOP Safety Centre
Report it
If you are under 18, report online sexual abuse to one of our Child Protection Advisors at the CEOP Safety Centre.
Report now
If you're over 18, call 101 to speak to your local police.
In an emergency
If you're ever in immediate harm or danger:
Call the police on 999 straight away
Tell an adult you trust who will be able to support you through a difficult time
How can I report when something doesn’t feel right?
How can I report when something doesn’t feel right?
Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online?
Make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors -Make a report - CEOP Safety Centre
CEOPs website provide useful links to Social Media platforms to report online content concerns
How can I get help to remove indecent images from the internet?
How can I get help to remove indecent images from the internet?
Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) created Report Remove to help young people report nude or sexual images and videos that have been shared of them online, to see if they can be removed from the internet.
Please watch the Report Remove | Childline
What is Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
What is Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
An explanation for younger children
What is Generative AI? | Kids Guide to AI | BrightBYTES
Generative Artificial Intelligence – Good and bad
What do Children and Young People like about Generative Artificial Intelligence?
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- Easy to use
- Can be accessed on many platforms
- Explains and breaks down difficult information
- Offers a different way to learn
- Can create new things
- Children can ask questions with no one judging them
(Taken from Childnet cheat sheet)
What do children and young people dislike about Generative Artificial Intelligence?
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- Can they trust the information it gives?
- It can be used to create scams, deepfakes (videos, picture or audio clips made with artificial intelligence to look real) and nude images
- They might be accused of cheating in school work
- Information might be biased (tell one side only)
- It might mean they don’t use their own skills and abilities
- Takes away meeting people face to face
(adapted from Childnet cheat sheet)
Worried about your own sexual thoughts or behaviour?
Worried about your own sexual thoughts or behaviour?
If you're worried about your own sexual thoughts or behaviour, or you're concerned about a friend, you can find help on the Shore website made by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation. This is a safe and anonymous place to get support.
You’ve had sexual thoughts or feelings about younger children - Shore
Getting Help to prevent online sexual behaviour
What do I do if someone is encouraging me to hurt myself
What do I do if someone is encouraging me to hurt myself?
Encouraging or assisting serious self-harm is when someone tries to persuade you to harm yourself, or helps you to harm yourself. This means injuries to yourself like broken bones, deep cuts to the skin or disfigurement. Other serious harm, such as starvation, is also considered. The physical harm doesn't have to be permanent.
It can happen online or offline and can include things like:
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- sending you social media posts telling you to harm yourself
- sending you links to pro-self-harm or pro-anorexic websites
- encouraging you to stop taking medication you need
- someone giving you a razor blade and encouraging you to cut yourself
(Taken from Encouraging serious self-harm | Police.uk)
Concerns around Radicalisation / Extremism/ Terrorism
Concerns around Radicalisation / Extremism/ Terrorism
Report illegal or harmful information, pictures or videos you have found on the internet. 
You can report things like:
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- articles, images, speeches or videos that promote terrorism or encourage violence
- websites made by terrorist or extremist organisations
- videos of terrorist attacks
You can make your report without leaving your name and contact details.
Report online material promoting terrorism or extremism - GOV.UK
Being a responsible Digital User
Being a responsible Digital User
Being online is part of everyday life. It can help you stay connected, learn new things, be creative and have fun. But what you do online can also affect you and other people. Being a responsible digital user means thinking before you post, share, comment or message — and knowing when to ask for help.
Your choices online matter
Every like, share, comment, message or screenshot is a choice. Even if something feels funny, private or harmless at the time, it can have a real impact. Before you post or send something, ask yourself: Would I be okay if this was shared wider? Could this hurt, embarrass or pressure someone else? Would I say this face to face?
Respect people online and offline
Behind every profile, username or screen is a real person. Treat people online with the same respect you would expect in person. Do not share rumours, pile on, pressure someone, make threats, or post things designed to shame or upset them. If a group chat, comment section or online space is becoming harmful, you do not have to join in.
Think before you share
Not everything needs to be shared. This includes screenshots, private messages, photos, videos, someone’s location, personal information, or content that was sent in confidence. If it involves someone else, ask yourself whether you have their permission and whether sharing it could put them at risk.
Do not pressure others — and do not ignore pressure
No one should be made to feel they have to send, post, meet, reply, prove themselves, keep a secret, or do something that makes them uncomfortable. Pressure can happen through jokes, dares, threats, repeated messages, gifts, promises or guilt-tripping. If someone is pressuring you or someone else online, that is not okay — speak to a trusted adult or use a report button on the app or platform.
Protect your privacy
Your personal information is valuable. Think carefully before sharing your full name, school, address, phone number, live location, passwords, daily routines or private details about your life. Check your privacy settings regularly and be careful about accepting friend requests, follows or messages from people you do not know.
Bullying behind a screen is still bullying
It can feel easier to say or share something hurtful when you are behind a screen, but it still affects real people. Online bullying can include name-calling, threats, spreading rumours, sharing embarrassing content, leaving people out on purpose, or encouraging others to pile on. If you see it happening, do not join in. Save evidence if it is safe to do so, report it, block if needed, and tell a trusted adult.
Be careful of scams and fake accounts
Not everyone online is who they say they are. Scammers may use fake accounts, competitions, gaming offers, job opportunities, money-making schemes, relationship messages, or urgent requests to get your attention. Be wary if someone asks for money, personal details, passwords, photos, codes, bank information, or tells you to keep things secret. If something feels too good to be true, rushed, threatening or uncomfortable, pause and speak to someone you trust.
Do not get pulled in by online “hot topics”
Online trends, arguments, challenges and “hot topics” can move fast. Influencers and popular accounts may make something look exciting, funny or harmless, but that does not always mean it is safe, true or fair. Before you comment, share, copy a trend or join a debate, take a moment to check: Is this accurate? Could it upset or harm someone? Am I being pressured to react? You do not have to follow the crowd.
Think carefully about AI
AI can be useful for learning, creativity and problem-solving, but it can also be used to spread fake information, create fake images or videos, copy someone’s voice, or make harmful content look real. Do not use AI to embarrass, trick, bully, threaten or impersonate anyone. If you see something online and you are not sure if it is real, check it with a trusted source or adult before sharing it.
Pause, think, ask for help
Being responsible online does not mean being perfect. Everyone can make mistakes or feel unsure. What matters is noticing when something does not feel right and knowing what to do next. Pause before you post, think before you share, and ask for help if you are worried about yourself or someone else. You deserve to feel safe online
Gaming - Keep the Fun, Know the Risks, Stay in Control
Further Information and resources on online harm