Emergency Help
Calm, practical guidance for urgent situations. Take a breath — you're doing the right thing by looking for help.
If a child is in immediate danger
Call 999 (UK), 911 (US), or your local emergency number immediately. These guides are for situations where you need practical next steps — not a replacement for emergency services.
My Child Has Seen Sexual Content Online
Calm, step-by-step guidance for parents and carers when a child has been exposed to sexual or pornographic content online.
A Stranger Has Messaged My Child Online
What to do if an unknown person has contacted your child through social media, gaming, or messaging apps. Practical steps to keep your child safe.
My Child Is Being Bullied Online
Supportive, practical guidance for parents and carers when a child is experiencing cyberbullying — including how to gather evidence, report, and support your child emotionally.
My Child Has Sent a Private or Intimate Image
Guidance for parents when a child has shared a nude, semi-nude, or intimate image of themselves with someone online. Focuses on damage limitation and emotional support.
My Child Is Being Blackmailed Online (Sextortion)
Urgent guidance for parents when a child is being threatened or blackmailed with intimate images. Includes steps to stop the cycle and report to authorities.
My Child Is Panicking After an Online Incident
How to calm and support a child who is visibly distressed, anxious, or panicking after something that happened online.
I Have Found a Hidden Account or Secret Profile
What to do if you discover your child has a secret social media account, alternative profile, or hidden app. How to approach the conversation without damaging trust.
Someone Online Knows Our Home Address
What to do when someone on the internet has obtained or shared your family's home address, school location, or other identifying information.
My Child Has Gone Missing and I Suspect Online Involvement
Emergency guidance for parents when a child has gone missing and there is reason to believe an online contact or relationship may be involved.
My Child Has Disclosed Something Worrying
How to respond when a child tells you something concerning about their online experiences — whether abuse, exploitation, or another harmful situation.
My Child Has Seen Violent or Disturbing Content Online
How to support a child who has been exposed to violent, graphic, or deeply disturbing content online — including real-world violence, gore, self-harm content, or extremist material.
Suspicious Contact Through Online Gaming
What to do if your child has formed a concerning relationship with someone through an online game — including signs of grooming through gaming platforms.
Harmful Content Being Shared Between Peers
What to do when children are sharing harmful, distressing, or illegal content amongst themselves via group chats, social media, or messaging apps.
Someone Is Impersonating My Child Online
What to do when someone has created a fake account pretending to be your child on social media, gaming platforms, or messaging apps.
Found Unsafe Apps on My Child's Device
What to do when you discover apps on your child's device that may be unsafe, age-inappropriate, or designed to hide activity.
My Child Is Threatening Self-Harm or Sharing Self-Harm Content Online
What to do if your child is posting, viewing, or sharing self-harm content online, or has expressed thoughts of self-harm through digital channels.
My Child Has Been Exposed to Extremist or Radicalisation Content
Guidance for parents who discover their child has been viewing, sharing, or engaging with extremist or radicalisation material online.
My Child Has Been Gambling Online
What to do if you discover your child has been gambling online, using betting apps, or has accumulated gambling debts.
My Child's Identity Has Been Stolen or Used Fraudulently
What to do if your child's personal information has been stolen, their identity used to open accounts, or they are a victim of online fraud.
My Child Has Run Up a Large In-App Purchase Bill
What to do if your child has made large unexpected in-app purchases on games or apps, and how to seek a refund.
My Child Has Arranged to Meet Someone From the Internet
Urgent guidance for parents who discover their child has arranged or attempted to meet someone they know only from the internet.
My Child Received an Unsolicited Explicit Image
What to do if your child has been sent an explicit or sexual image without asking for it — covering how to support your child, preserve evidence, and report to UK authorities.
I Think My Child Is Being Catfished
What to do if you believe someone online has been deceiving your child using a fake identity — practical steps to verify, protect, and report.
My Child Is Being Recruited by a Gang Online
Urgent guidance for parents who believe their child is being targeted for gang recruitment online — including county lines, what to look for, and who to contact.
My Child Is Involved in Online Hate
What to do if your child is posting hateful or extremist content online, or has been targeted by sustained hate speech — covering both sides of online hate involvement.
My Child Has Shared Our Financial Details Online
Immediate steps to take if your child has shared bank account details, card numbers, passwords, or other financial information online — including how to limit fraud and report to Action Fraud.