Understanding what children and young people SEE, SAY AND DO online
We provide a broad understanding of the types of things that young people SEE, SAY and DO online.
What they SEE
Young people search for and consume content including videos, images and text.
What they SAY
Being connected is a huge part of young people’s lives, including interacting with friends and family.
What they DO
There are many types of activities including apps and games that children and young people use.
We’ve categorised apps, games and sites by their primary features to help you learn more about the types of things young people might DO online.
Find advice – Social networking and meeting people
Find advice – IMs, DMs and chat
Find advice – Video and image sharing
Having an understanding of the features of the apps, games and sites your child is using, particularly whether they connect with other users, can help to minimise some of the challenges.
Understanding online challenges
Online child sexual exploitation can be confronting and not something that you may have considered as an issue that could affect you or your child.
We refer to ‘online risks’ or ‘dangers’ as online challenges. This is because not every online experience results in harm and challenges can be prevented, managed and overcome.
Challenges can vary depending on your child and the activities they may be doing online. For example, challenges can arise if your child is interacting with people they don’t know, or using social media accounts with minimal privacy settings.
Challenges relating to online child sexual exploitation include:
Some people might think once a device is switched off, then the issue stops. This isn’t always the case, and often online challenges can have impacts offline.
Knowing the challenges and how they can be prevented or managed with the right information will help you take action.