Online Exploitation

Online child abuse can be is any type of abuse of a child that happens online or via use of technology. It can happen across any device that's connected to the web, like computers, tablets and mobile phones.

1. Introduction

1.1 Online child abuse can happen anywhere online that allows digital communication, such as:

  • Social networks
  • Text messages and messaging apps
  • Email and private messaging
  • Online chats
  • Comments on live streaming sites
  • Voice chat in games
  • Immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality

1.2 This Tees Guidance document gives an overview of types of online child abuse, what the response should be and some useful tools and resources for parents, carers and practitioners.

Further information on this subject is available on the NSPCC website (please refer to links at the bottom of this page).

The internet can be a great place for children and young people to play, learn and connect, however it can also put them at risk of online abuse and harm. 

2. What is it?

2.1 Children and young people can experience further abuse when abusive content is recorded, uploaded or shared by others online. This can happen if the original abuse happened online or offline.

2.2 Online abuse can be perpetrated by individuals or groups, males or females, and children or adults. Perpetrators can be someone the child knows or can be a stranger.

Perpetrators exploit digital technology to initiate, maintain and escalate abuse. They may also groom children and young people online, using online platforms to build a trusting relationship with the intention of abusing a child or young person.

Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with  a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.  Children and young people who are groomed can be sexually abused, exploited or trafficked.

Anybody can be a groomer, no matter their age, gender or race.  Grooming can take place over a short or long period of time – from weeks to years.  Groomers may also build a relationship with the young person's family or friends to make them seem trustworthy or authoritative.

When a child is groomed online, groomers may hide who they are by sending photos or videos of other people. Sometimes this will be of someone younger than them to gain the trust of a "peer".  They might target one child online or contact lots of children very quickly and wait for them to respond.  Perpetrators often target children who are already vulnerable – who may have troubled family histories and/or be bullied outside of the home and socially isolated.

Children and young people may experience several types of abuse online:

  • Bullying/cyberbullying
  • Emotional abuse and psychological manipulation (this includes emotional blackmail, for example pressuring children and young people to comply with sexual requests via technology)
  • Exposure to violence and inappropriate content with the potential to be coerced into carrying out acts of violence on others or themselves
  • Exposure to extreme ideological views associated with radicalisation. (please see guidance re Prevent duty on Tees procedures)
  • Harassment, stalking and threats
  • Sexting (pressure or coercion to create sexual images)
  • Sexual abuse
  • Sexual exploitation
  • Criminal exploitation - Perpetrators of exploitation can use online platforms to coerce young people into criminal activity and then monitor and control their movements. They could use location tracking to track the young person’s location, coercing their behaviour and blackmailing them into criminal activity. This is sometimes known as remote mothering.

3. Why it matters?

3.1 Technology can give perpetrators of abuse easier access to young people, even when in spaces they would consider safe and at times when parents and carers feel they are safe.

3.2 Additionally, the method of contact with the child can not only hide the abusive dynamics of a relationship, but also makes it difficult for them to escape the abuser and lead to feelings of powerlessness.

3.3 While online abuse is easier to hide the impact remains the same for the child and can have long-lasting effects on children and young people.

3.4 Additionally on line child sexual abuse

The use of the internet, social media, cloud-based storage, streaming services and digital devices are embedded in our daily lives – and such technology is likely to feature in almost all types of child sexual abuse.

Adults may use online spaces to have sexual conversations with children; view, download or distribute sexual images of children; order someone to perform sexual abuse on a child in front of a webcam; communicate with a child with the intention of performing an offence in person later on; or incite a child to pose naked or perform sexual acts via photo, video or live webcam. Such abuse can occur both on the ‘dark web’ and, more commonly, on ‘open web’ platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp. It can also take place via mobile phone/texting and gaming platforms.

Viewing child sexual abuse imagery may start in the absence of a sexual interest in children, and may take place during times of stress, difficulties with personal relationships, loneliness, alcohol or drug addiction, or depression. A common pathway begins with viewing legal pornography. Motivations include curiosity; facilitation of social relationships; sexual arousal or interest; thrill-seeking; financial gain, ‘avoiding real life’ and a compulsion to collect images. Many liken their behaviour to an addiction.

Many adults who commit these offences are known to their victims (as family members, friends, acquaintances or figures of authority). Although some women sexually abuse children in online spaces, most adults who view, share and/or produce child sexual abuse material are White men.

In one study, almost a third of survivors of online sexual harm said they had been harmed by other children.

In determining appropriate interventions for children who have harmed in online contexts, professionals need to assess the full range of the child’s behaviours – both online and offline – and to try to understand the reasons for them. 

4. Recognising vulnerability

4.1 Although any child or young person can experience online abuse or harm, research suggests there are some factors that can make children and young people more vulnerable to abuse.

4.2 These factors include things like:

  • Age and developmental stage, being easily influenced or impressionable
  • Gender (forming discriminatory views of the opposite sex – influenced by Incel’s, male misogyny or radical feminism)
  • Belonging to the LGBTQ+ community - feeling excluded by society and not accepted.
  • Loneliness or social isolation (having low self-esteem or being isolated)
  • Living in care (feeling that rejection, discrimination or injustice is taking place in society) having a strong need for acceptance or belonging, experiencing living loss and grief – separation from family or loss of a loved one. Seeking attachments elsewhere.
  • Previous experiences of abuse.
  • Being disrespectful or angry towards family and peers
  • Special educational needs or disability
  • Mental health problems

5. Spotting the signs

5.1 Many of the signs that a child is being abused are the same regardless of the type of abuse they are experiencing.  

5.2 What you should look out for in a child or young person who may be experiencing online abuse.

  • Behaviour or emotional changes that a child may display. For example they may become angry or irritable, or they might seem low or anxious, or become more distant.
  • You may notice changes in their eating or sleeping habits.
  • They may start to develop extreme views (this includes online and offline communication) change their style of dress or personal appearance, lose interest in friends and activities that are not associated with the extremist ideology, group or cause. They may have material or symbols associated with an extreme cause, try to recruit others to join the cause indicating possible radicalisation.
  • Become more secretive about their devices or who they are talking to
  • Appear isolated or withdrawn from their usual friendships and activities, or have new friends
  • Spend more (or suddenly less) time online
  • Being secretive about who they are talking to and what they are doing online or on their mobile phone
  • Having lots of new phone numbers, texts or email addresses on their mobile phone, laptop or tablet
  • Receiving gifts

5.3 Signs vary and will depend on the individual child or young person, and the type of harm they are experiencing

6. If you are worried about a child, what to do next?

6.1 Any agency or practitioner who has concerns that a child may be at risk of significant harm whilst online should contact the relevant MACH or Chub and a referral to children’s social care should be made.

6.2 If there is concern about a child’s immediate safety, the Police should be contacted on 999

If a child reveals online abuse it can be difficult to know what to say and do if a child tells you they are being abused online.  They might not realise what is happening is wrong, and they might even blame themselves.  If a child talks to you about online abuse it’s important to:

  • Listen carefully to what they are saying
  • Be clear that you can’t keep it secret
  • Advise that you might need to tell someone to get the right support for them
  • Let them know they have done the right thing by telling you
  • Tell them it is not their fault
  • Say you will take them seriously
  • Do not confront the alleged abuser
  • Explain what you will do next
  • Report what the child has told you as soon as possible
  • Consider securing the device and deleting accounts and chats as these will assist the police investigation

7. Useful guidance, tools and websites: