Online Safety
Amendment
This chapter was refreshed in November 2024, and additional links added in Further Information.
'Internet Abuse' relates to primary areas of abuse to children and young people:
- Sharing and production of abusive images of children and young people (although these are not confined to the internet);
- A child or young person being groomed online for the purpose of Sexual Abuse;
- Exposure to pornographic images and other offensive material via the internet; and
- The use of the internet, and in particular social media sites, to engage children and young people in extremist ideologies or to promote gang related violence;
- Peer-led social media outlets encouraging, promoting, and sharing self-harming behaviours (Blue Whale Challenge, 2016).
The term digital (data carrying signals electronic or optical pulses) and interactive (a message relates to other previous message/s and the relationship between them) technology covers a range of electronic tools. These are constantly being upgraded and their use has become more widespread as the internet can be accessed easily on mobile / smart phones, laptops, computers, tablets and games consoles. Artificial intelligence has also been identified as an emerging threat to children and young people’s online safety.
Social networking sites can be used by perpetrators to access children and young people for sexual abuse. In addition, radical and extremist groups may use social networking to attract children and young people into rigid and narrow ideologies that are intolerant of diversity: this is similar to the grooming process and exploits the same vulnerabilities.
Internet abuse may also include cyberbullying or online bullying (see Bullying). This is when a child is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child or multiple children or young people using the internet and/or mobile devices. In any case of severe bullying, it may be appropriate to consider the behaviour as child abuse by another young person.
Sexting (some children and young people consider this to mean ‘writing and sharing explicit messages with people they know’ rather than sharing youth-produced sexual images) or sharing nudes and semi-nudes are terms used when a person under the age of 18 shares sexual, naked or semi-naked images or videos of themselves or others, or sends sexually explicit messages. They can be sent using mobiles, tablets, smartphones, laptops - any device that allows images and messages to be shared. Sexting may not be criminally motivated and can be consensual, but creating or sharing explicit images of a child is illegal, even if the person doing it is a child. A young person is breaking the law if they:
- Take an explicit photo or video of themselves or a friend;
- Share an explicit image or video of a child, even if it's shared between children and young people of the same age;
- Possess, download or store an explicit image or video of a child, even if the child gave their permission for it to be created.
It is important that when discussing the risks of this type of behaviour with children and young people the behaviour is accurately explained.
If a young person is found creating or sharing images, the police can choose to record that an incident has taken place and formal action has been considered but is not in the public interest. The criminalisation of children and young people is the least favourable option and only after careful evidential review would formal action be taken. In the incident record children are initially referred to as involved parties, not offenders.
With effect from 29 June 2021, section 69 Domestic Abuse Act 2021 expanded so-called 'revenge porn' to include threats to disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.
E-Safety is the generic term that refers to raising awareness about how children, young people and adults can protect themselves when using digital technology and in the online environment and provides examples of interventions that can reduce the level of risk for children and young people.
The chapters relating to Complex (Organised or Multiple) Abuse and Managing Allegations Against Adults who work with Children and Young People should be borne in mind depending on the circumstances of the concerns.
There is evidence from research that the abusive behaviour of people found in possession of indecent images/pseudo images or films/videos of children and young people may escalate and they may become involved directly in child abuse themselves.
In particular, an individual's access to children and young people should be established during the assessment and section 47 investigation (see Section 47 Enquiry) to consider the possibility that they may be actively involved in the abuse of children and young people, including those within the family, within employment contexts or in other settings such as voluntary work with children or other positions of trust.
Any indecent, obscene image involving a child or young person, including pseudo and non-photographic images, has involved a person who has been party to abusing that child.
There is a correlation between online risk and real-life vulnerability that means care-experienced children and young people have an increased risk of encountering online harm. Young people with prior off-line vulnerabilities are at greater risk of harm online then children and young people with none. For example, young people with eating disorders, looked after children and young people, those with communication challenges, and neurodiverse conditions may use technology to communicate and socialise in ways they cannot achieve without it. Denying online access to children and young people can be harmful in itself (e.g., loss of opportunity to develop resilience, risk of alienation, risk of turning to secret devices) and so consideration should be given as to the most appropriate measures to mitigate the risk.
Often issues involving child abuse becomes known through an accidental discovery of images on a computer or other device and can seem to emerge 'out of the blue' from an otherwise trusted and non-suspicious individual. This in itself can make accepting the fact of the abuse difficult for those who know and may have trusted that individual. Partners, colleagues and friends often find it difficult to believe and may require support.
The initial indicators of child abuse are likely to be changes in behaviour and mood of the child victim. Clearly such changes can also be attributed to many innocent events in a child's life and cannot be regarded as diagnostic. However changes to a child's circle of friends or a noticeable change in attitude towards the use of computer or phone could have their origin in abusive behaviour. Similarly a change in their friends or not wanting to be alone with a particular person may be a sign that something is upsetting them.
Children and young people often show rather than tell that something is upsetting them. There may be many reasons for changes in their behaviour, but if we notice a combination of worrying signs it may be time to call for help or advice.
Where there is suspected or actual evidence of anyone accessing or creating indecent images of children and young people, this must be shared with the Police and Children's Social Care in line with the Contacts and Referrals Procedure.
Where there are concerns about a child being groomed, exposed to pornographic material or contacted by someone inappropriately, via the internet or other ICT tools like a mobile phone, referrals must be made to the Police and to Children's Social Care in line with the Contacts and Referrals Procedure.
The Serious Crime Act (2015) introduced an offence of 'sexual communication with a child'. This applies to an adult, who communicates with a child and where the communication is sexual or, if it is intended to elicit from the child a communication, which is sexual and the adult reasonably believes the child to be under 16 years of age. The Act also amended the Sex Offences Act (2003) so it is now an offence for an adult to arrange to meet with someone under 16 having communicated with them on just one occasion, previously it was on at least two occasions.
All such reports should be taken seriously. Referrals will normally lead to a Strategy Discussion (see Strategy Discussion and Meetings) to determine the course of further investigation, enquiry and assessment. Any intervention should be continually under review especially if further evidence becomes known.
Due to the nature of this type of abuse and the possibility of the destruction of evidence, the referrer must discuss their concerns with the Police and Children’s Services before considering any disclosure to the family. This will enable a joint decision to be made about informing the family and ensuring that the child’s welfare is safeguarded.
Where there are concerns in relation to a child’s exposure to extremist materials (online or physical material) please consider the following options:
- Speak to the child’s school – all school’s should have a Prevent Lead (often this is the Designated Safeguarding Lead)
- Speak to the HCC Prevent Programme Manager to consider a Prevent referral.
- Report the extremist material here: Report online material promoting terrorism or extremism - GOV.UK
When communicating via the internet, young people tend to become less wary and talk about things far more openly than they might when communicating face to face.
Both male and female adults and some young people may use the internet to harm children. Some do this by looking at, taking and/or distributing photographs and video images on the internet of children naked, in sexual poses and/or being sexually abused.
Children and young people should be supported to understand that when they use digital technology they should not give out any personal information, particularly their name, address, school, or mobile phone numbers, to anyone they do not know or trust: this particularly includes social networking and online gaming sites. The Digital Passport is aimed specifically at Looked After Children, but may be a useful resource that can be adapted for any vulnerable child.
Children and young people should be warned about the risks of taking sexually explicit pictures of themselves and sharing them on the internet or by text. It is essential, therefore, that young people understand the legal implications and the risks they are taking. The initial risk posed by sexting or sharing nudes and semi-nudes may come from peers, friends and others in their social network who may share the images. However, once an image has been sent, it can then be shared with others or posted online. The Criminal Justice and Courts Act (2015) introduced the offence of Revenge Porn where intimate images are shared with the intent to cause distress to the specific victim. Should the severity require the consideration of indecent images charges, then there is a requirement to be registered as a sex offender.
Where young people are voluntarily sending/sharing sexual images or content with one another the Police are likely to use the 'outcome 21' recording code. This allows the Police to record a crime as having happened but for no formal criminal justice action to be taken. Crimes recorded this way are unlikely to appear on future records or checks, unless the young person has been involved in other similar activities which may indicate they are at risk.
The discretion about whether to disclose non-conviction information rests with each Chief Constable managing the process.
In some cases adults may also groom a young person into sending such images which can then be used to blackmail and ensnare them – see Hertfordshire's Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Exploitation.
Legislation, Statutory Guidance and Government Non-Statutory Guidance
Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people
Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment between Children in Schools and Colleges (September 2021)
Sending by means of the internet a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character; or sending a false message by means of or persistently making use of the internet for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety is guilty of an offence liable, on conviction, to imprisonment. This wording is important because an offence is complete as soon as the message has been sent: there is no need to prove any intent or purpose.
Protection of Children Act 1978
It is an offence to take, permit to be taken, make, possess, show, distribute or advertise indecent images of children in the United Kingdom. A child for these purposes is anyone under the age of 18. Viewing an indecent image of a child on your computer means that you have made a digital image. An image of a child also covers pseudo-photographs (digitally collated or otherwise). A person convicted of such an offence may face up to 10 years in prison.
The offence of grooming is committed if you are over 18 and have communicated with a child under 16 on one occasion (including by phone or using the Internet) it is an offence to meet them or travel to meet them anywhere in the world with the intention of committing a sexual offence. Causing a child under 16 to watch a sexual act is illegal, including looking at images such as videos, photos or webcams, for your own gratification. It is also an offence for a person in a position of trust to engage in sexual activity with any person under 18, with whom they are in a position of trust. (Typically, teachers, social workers, health professionals, youth workers fall in this category of trust). Any sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 13 commits the offence of rape.
The Act introduces a new offence of sexual communication with a child. This would criminalise an adult who communicates with a child for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, where the communication is sexual or if it is intended to elicit from the child a communication which is sexual and the adult reasonably believes the child to be under 16.
Useful Websites
NSPCC Report Remove Tool - The tool enables young people under the age of 18 to report a nude image or video of themselves which has appeared online. The Internet Watch Foundation will review these reports and work to remove any content which breaks the law.
UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) Digital Passport - a communication tool to support children and young people with care experience to talk with their carers about their online lives.
Social Media as a Catalyst and Trigger for Youth Violence (Catch 22)
The Dark Web Explained (for Professionals)
Internet Matters - advice for professionals, parents and young people on a wide range of digital safety issues including the digital passport.
Refuge and Risk: Life Online for Vulnerable Young People - research into the risks and dangers for vulnerable young people online. The report discusses the types of risk they encounter which is exacerbated by the vulnerabilities.
UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) Digital Passport - a communication tool to support children and young people with care experience to talk with their carers about their online lives.
Information for Children/Carers
Child Safety Online - A Practical Guide for Parents and Carers whose Children and Using Social Media.
Talking to Your Child About Online Sexual Harassment (Children’s Commissioner)
Last Updated: November 6, 2024
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