From nasty comments on social media (trolling) to harassment during a video game (griefing), being bullied online can be as upsetting as being bullied in real life, not least because it can happen 24/7. Some young people even become bullies or bystanders themselves, without realising the severity of the situation.
Your child could be persuaded to reveal information about themselves online that someone else could use to track them, steal from them or commit a crime in their name.
When someone makes contact with a child with the motive of sexual abuse or radicalisation, this is known as grooming. Children are often very trusting, so it’s important that you understand what grooming is and that you know what to do if your child is contacted in this way via messaging apps, social media or multiplayer games.
You might be used to your child taking lots of selfies, but what if they send or receive naked photos or videos? Many young people don’t realise that sexting is risky – the recipient is breaking the law if the subject is under 18, and the image could get passed on to others and used for bullying.