What are the warning signs of online grooming?

Common signs include being secretive about who they talk to online, new online 'friends' who are older, unexplained gifts, money, or game credits, using sexual language or knowledge beyond their age, a second or hidden account, switching screens quickly when you approach, and sudden changes in mood, sleep, or behaviour. No single sign proves grooming — look for a pattern.

How do groomers target children online?

Groomers typically pose as a friendly peer or helpful older 'friend', offer attention, compliments, gifts, or in-game currency, and gradually build trust and secrecy before introducing sexual content or requests. They often meet children in games or public comment sections and then move the conversation to private or disappearing-message apps.

At what age can grooming start?

Grooming can target children of any age, but it is most commonly reported in children aged 8 and above with unsupervised internet access. Children who are lonely, going through a difficult time, or seeking validation are particularly vulnerable — but it can happen to any child.

Can grooming happen through games like Roblox, Fortnite, or Minecraft?

Yes. Games with chat and multiplayer features are among the most common places grooming begins, because they let adults and children interact casually and build rapport. Groomers may use in-game gifts or 'friendship' before moving to a messaging or disappearing-message app. Turn on the parental controls and restrict chat on any game your child plays online.

What's the difference between grooming and a genuine online friendship?

Genuine friendships don't rely on secrecy, gifts with strings attached, isolation from other people, or pressure to move to a private app. If an online contact asks your child to keep the relationship secret, sends money or gifts, wants to talk privately, or steers toward sexual or personal topics, those are grooming red flags — not friendship.

Should I read my child's private messages?

There's a balance between safety and trust that shifts with age. For younger children, active oversight of who they talk to is appropriate; for teenagers, an agreed approach and open conversation usually works better than secret monitoring, which can break trust and stop them coming to you. The most protective thing is a relationship where they will tell you when something feels wrong.

How do I talk to my child about grooming without frightening them?

Keep it matter-of-fact and skills-based rather than scary. Talk about how people online can pretend to be someone they're not, what to do if anyone asks for a photo, money, or secrecy, and — the key message — that they can always come to you and will never be in trouble for telling. Short, repeated conversations work far better than one alarming talk.

Is online grooming a crime in the UK?

Yes. Sexual Communication with a Child is a criminal offence, and grooming for sexual or criminal exploitation is illegal. NSPCC figures published in November 2025, from 44 UK police forces, show 7,263 Sexual Communication with a Child offences recorded by police in the latest year reported. You can report online grooming to CEOP and the police.

What should I do if I think my child is being groomed?

Stay calm, believe your child, and reassure them it's not their fault. Do not confront the person or delete anything — preserve evidence (screenshots, usernames, the platform, dates). Report to CEOP (ceop.police.uk) and the police (999 if there's immediate danger, otherwise 101). The NSPCC Helpline (0808 800 5000) advises worried adults and Childline (0800 1111) supports children directly. Do not try to investigate yourself.

Online

Online Grooming

How to recognise online grooming behaviour, protect your child from predatory adults, and respond if you suspect grooming is taking place.

Grooming is the process by which an adult builds a relationship, trust, and emotional connection with a child, online or in person, in order to manipulate, exploit, or abuse them.

Ages 8-10 Ages 11-13 Ages 14-16 Ages 17-plus

What is this?

Online grooming is when someone builds a relationship with a child in order to exploit or abuse them. Groomers often use social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps to make contact. The process can be gradual, making it difficult for a child — or parent — to recognise until significant trust has been established.

How it works

A groomer typically identifies a vulnerable child and begins by offering attention, compliments, and gifts. Over time they isolate the child from friends and family, introduce sexual content, and create a sense of secrecy and obligation. They may use multiple platforms simultaneously and encourage the child to move conversations to private or encrypted channels.

Warning signs

In your child

• Being secretive about who they are talking to online and becoming defensive when asked
• Receiving unexpected gifts, money, or game credits from an unknown source
• Using sexual language or having knowledge that is not age-appropriate

On their device

• Hidden or encrypted messaging apps that were not installed by a parent or carer
• Switching screens or closing apps quickly when an adult approaches
• Contact from unknown adults in gaming friend lists, followers, or message requests

Prevention steps

Set privacy settings to maximum

15 minutes

Ensure profiles are set to private, direct messages are restricted to known contacts, and location sharing is turned off on every platform your child uses.

Review friend lists and contacts

Tonight

Look through who your child is connecting with on games, social media, and messaging apps. Ask about any new contacts in a conversational, non-confrontational way.

Have the 'anyone can pretend' conversation

This weekend

Explain in age-appropriate language that not everyone online is who they say they are, that genuine adults do not ask children to keep secrets, and — most importantly — that they can always come to you and will never be in trouble for telling.

What to do if it happens

1Stay calm, believe your child, and reassure them that they have done the right thing by telling you.
2Do not confront the suspected groomer or delete any messages — preserve all evidence for the authorities.
3Report immediately to CEOP (ceop.police.uk) or call the police on 999 if there is an immediate risk.

If you need to report this

In immediate danger: call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101.

Concerned about a child but it's not an emergency? NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000. Childline for young people 0800 1111.

See all UK reporting pathways

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.

The picture in the UK

7,263

Sexual Communication with a Child offences were recorded by police, according to figures from 44 UK police forces — described by the NSPCC as a record high.

NSPCC, published November 2025

40%

of the 2,111 offences where police could identify the platform took place on Snapchat, compared with 9% on WhatsApp and 9% on Facebook and Instagram.

NSPCC, published November 2025

Myths & facts

Myth: Groomers are obvious strangers who seem suspicious.

Fact: Groomers usually pose as a friendly peer or a helpful older 'friend', and are patient and charming. The whole method is to seem safe and known — which is why 'stranger danger' framing misses how grooming actually works.

Myth: Grooming only happens on dodgy or hidden apps.

Fact: It happens on the mainstream games, social media, and messaging apps children already use every day — often starting in a game or a public comment section before moving to private chat.

Myth: My child would tell me straight away if something felt wrong.

Fact: Groomers deliberately build secrecy, obligation, and shame so the child feels unable to speak up. That is exactly why 'you can always come to me, and you will never be in trouble' has to be established long before anything happens.

Age by age

8-10
Teach that people online may not be who they say they are, never to share personal details or photos, and to always tell you about any adult or older child who contacts them.
11-13
Talk about how someone might pretend to be a friend to gain trust, the warning signs (secrecy, gifts, being asked to move to another app), and that no topic is off-limits with you.
14-16
Discuss grooming into both sexual images and crime (money-muling, gangs), the tactic of moving chats to private or disappearing apps, and that being groomed is never the young person's fault.
17-plus
Reinforce that grooming and exploitation affect older teenagers too, especially around relationships and 'easy money', and signpost confidential help.

What to say

Full conversation guides: stranger messages talk, you can always tell me

A real-world example

A new friend from a gameAn illustrative composite of how online grooming often begins — through an ordinary game — and how one parent responded calmly and effectively.Late-night image panicAn illustrative composite of financial sextortion — which heavily targets teenage boys — and the exact steps that stop it escalating.Drawn towards county linesAn illustrative composite of how criminal exploitation — county lines — can begin with online friendship, gifts and status, and how a parent responded by treating their son as a victim, not an offender.

Frequently Asked Questions

Part of: Online Safety· Body Safety· Neurodivergent· Disabilities· Starting Secondary· Young Carers· Grooming & Exploitation

Related Resources

Safety Topic

Online Strangers

Audience

Guide for Parents

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Last reviewed: 2026-04-19Next review: 2027-01-31Reviewed against: NSPCC guidance, CEOP Education

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