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Safer Internet Day: the basics for staying safe online
Posted: 5 February 2019

All children can be at risk of exploitation and grooming when they go online. Platforms such as online gaming, social media, messaging and live streaming are often used as vehicles for grooming and exploitation.
Our Prevention Team, who work on preventing and lowering incidences of child sexual abuse and exploitation, child criminal exploitation, modern day slavery and human trafficking, have created a guide outlining the risks of being online and what to do if you’re concerned.
Online grooming is the act of developing a relationship with a child to enable their abuse and exploitation both online and offline.
Online exploitation is when an individual or group use online platforms to take advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual and/or criminal activity that can occur online and offline.
Here we concentrate on the dangers of online gaming.
If you think your child is being exploited, make sure you let them know they can talk to you about anything they’re worried about. Listen to them and don’t dismiss their experiences or get angry if they tell you something concerning.
When buying games, check the content and online features. Is it appropriate? Can you use privacy and parental controls? Can you turn location settings off?
For more practical advice and tips on how to start the conversation with a young person, see the online exploitation cards designed by our Prevention Team.
If you are concerned about something you’ve seen online, let the police know on 101 or let Child Exploitation Online Protection (COEP) know.