NSPCC urges parents to discuss online grooming with children as online usage increases

It is important that, as parents, we talk about the dangers of online grooming with our children just as we would about fire safety messages, or crossing the road for instance.

It could be said that this is the modern age’s stranger danger talk that our parents had with us as children. It is especially important following the recent news from an NSPCC survey last year of 2,000 children and young people aged 11 to 17 that found that lonely children are twice as likely to be groomed online.

We know from the increasing calls to Childline, children talk about feeling “lonely” and “isolated” during the lockdown.

With more and more time spent online during these unprecedented times, albeit to help our children stay connected, entertained and to help with their learning, it is vital that we as parents keep up with our regular online safety chats.

The risk of online grooming is at particularly worrying levels now as the coronavirus crisis has created a ‘perfect storm’ for offenders to abuse children online.

It’s never been easier for abusers to groom children because, unfortunately, this crisis also means that tech firms have had to scale back on their human moderators thereby exposing the cracks that already existed in platforms that have failed to keep children safe.

Talking to our children is the best way to help protect them - it is not about banning any apps or games, or even about limiting the amount of time spent online.

Abusers can exploit young people’s vulnerabilities whether they spend short or long periods online.

So, talk to your children about online grooming, and explain what we mean by online grooming.

If you are unsure how to start these conversations, or not completely sure how to explain the risks then please do use resources like Net Aware, a site co-created by the NSPCC and O2. It can help parents and children understand how to minimise the potential risks and ensure that online resources can be an important, and safe, part of coping with the implications of social distancing. If your child seems distant or upset after using the internet and are being secretive about who they’re talking to online, then reassure them that they can talk to you.

Make sure they understand it is never their fault and that abusers are devious and manipulative. And despite these difficult days, Childline is working hard to ensure we are always there for them too. Our moderated message boards for example, can be a great source of peer support.

You can find more information about your child’s online world and the most popular apps/games they’re using at www.net-aware.org.uk or call the O2 NSPCC Online Safety advice line for free on 0808 800 5002.