Short messages on Online safety issues from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
Don’t confuse peoples’ posts on social media as being a true and complete reflection of that person’s life. In reality it is probably them portraying themselves at their very very best.
If someone is trying to sexually exploit you, they may try to isolate you from your friends or family by saying they are the only person you need, that your family won’t understand or you’ll be in trouble.
People who exploit young people for sex want them to think they are a friend, or a boyfriend or girlfriend, to gain their trust to get power over them. They might use bribes, threats, humiliation and violence to get this power.
An online groomer might keep messaging you through different ways, ask you to keep it a secret, ask you if you trust them, and ask who else uses your computer (to find out if they could get caught).
Someone online might pretend to be like you and have the same interests or problems as you. They could just be doing this to get you to trust them, so later on they can get you to do what they want.
Online, someone might send you a photo they say is of themselves when it isn’t them. It’s important to be really careful and not trust people online if you can’t be sure who they are.
A ‘groomer’ might say that they will share online any images or videos you’ve made for them if you don’t send more.
Online grooming is when someone builds an online relationship with a young person and tricks them or forces them to do something sexual such as making photo’s or videos, sexual conversation or meet-ups.
If you’ve been sent a rude or sexual photo from a stranger, speak to an adult in your life that you trust and tell them what you have received. Report them using CEOP’s website and block them from contacting you again.
If you have sent an image to someone and wish you hadn’t, have an honest conversation with them and ask them to delete it. The quicker you can do this the better – you may be able to stop them passing it on.