Online Grooming happens when someone contacts a child with the intention of sexually abusing them, either through the internet or offline. It’s one of those things that, as a parent, you don’t want to think about, and you may believe it’s unlikely to happen to your child. But it does happen, and for this reason, it is something you need to be aware of.Abusers use a variety of techniques to contact and build relationships with young people, such as:Collecting personal information online (e.g., age, name, address, mobile number, and school) from social networking sites, multiplayer games, and other web forums;Offering modeling opportunities, especially to young girls;Promising meetings with celebrities and offering gifts such as computer games or concert tickets;Gaining the child’s trust by showing care or acting friendly while discussing their problems;Pretending to be a child or using a false identity in order to gain their trust;Using technology to threaten or blackmail them.

Children can be exploited online without ever meeting or having physical contact with the abuser – for example, the abuser may ask them to send nude photos or perform sexual acts via webcam and then share these images with others. Once the abuser has gained the child’s trust online, they may suggest meeting in real life.Whatever form this takes, many young victims feel responsible and guilty for what is happening and find it difficult to ask for help. In some cases, they may not even realize that what is happening is abuse, and they may believe they are in a relationship with the abuser, someone they trust and feel close to.

What can I do?

Discuss the potential risks of online abuse with your son or daughter. Don’t wait for something to happen—talk with them now and keep the conversation going.Remind your child that the internet is a public space and not everyone online is who they say they are.Enable Parental Controls and Safe Search where available, depending on their age and development—but remember these may not be 100% effective and do not replace parental supervision.Explain to them that they should never give out personal details (such as name, address, or school) or share personal information (including photos and videos) with strangers online or via their mobile phone.Encourage your children to set their online profiles (e.g., on social networking sites) to “private” so only friends and family can see them.Set clear rules for using webcams, digital cameras, and mobile phone cameras.Remember that your child can be exposed to online abuse in many places—multiplayer gaming sites, chat rooms, and social networking sites are all public spaces.Encourage your son or daughter to talk to you about anything that makes them feel uncomfortable online or on their mobile phone, such as being contacted by a stranger, and remind them to keep emails, messages, or other evidence.Watch out for unusual signs such as your child hiding emails or messages, being contacted by unknown adults, receiving gifts, or showing sudden major changes in behavior.