Is my child in legal trouble for receiving this image?

No. Receiving an unsolicited image is not a criminal offence. The sender is the one who has acted wrongly. If the image shows a child under 18, report to the IWF immediately — but your child has not committed any offence by receiving it.

The image was sent in a group chat — what should I do?

The same steps apply. Preserve evidence, report to the platform, and report to the IWF if the content appears to involve a minor. You may also want to notify the school if the group chat involves classmates, so they can take appropriate action.

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My Child Received an Unsolicited Explicit Image

Your child has received an explicit or sexual image or video via a messaging app, social media direct message, group chat, or gaming platform. The content was not requested and your child is upset, confused, or frightened.

Receiving an unsolicited explicit image is something your child did not choose and is not responsible for. The sender — not your child — has done something wrong. How you respond now will shape whether your child feels safe coming to you in the future. Stay calm, reassure them, and follow the steps below.

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Reassure Your Child Immediately

Tell your child they have done nothing wrong and are not in trouble. Acknowledge that what happened was unexpected and unpleasant. Use calm, steady language: 'I am so glad you told me. This is not your fault at all.'

✗ Do not: Do not react with shock, anger, or questions that imply blame — this can cause your child to shut down or feel responsible.

Do Not View or Save the Image

If the image has not already been viewed, do not open it. If it has been seen, do not save, forward, or share it. Depending on the nature of the image, saving or distributing it may itself be a criminal offence.

✗ Do not: Do not examine the content repeatedly or ask your child to describe it in detail.

Preserve Evidence Before Reporting

Before deleting anything, take screenshots of the message thread, the sender's profile, their username, and any relevant metadata such as timestamps. Note the platform, date, and time of receipt.

Report to the Platform

Use the platform's built-in reporting tools to report the sender. Most platforms have a specific option for unsolicited explicit content. Block the sender after reporting.

Report to Authorities

If the image appears to show a child under 18, report immediately to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) at iwf.org.uk — do not delay. If the sender is known to your child or you believe your child may be at risk of further contact, report to CEOP at ceop.police.uk. For immediate danger, call 999.

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✗Do not delete the messages or block the sender before preserving evidence — you may need this for a report.
✗Do not forward the image to anyone, including the police or school, unless specifically instructed to do so by authorities.
✗Do not minimise the incident — even if your child appears unbothered, check in with them over the following days.

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หากคุณต้องการรายงานต่อเจ้าหน้าที่หรือแพลตฟอร์ม หลักฐานสามารถช่วยได้

•Screenshot the message thread showing the sender's name or username, profile picture, and the time the image was sent — before blocking or deleting.
•Note the platform, the full username or URL of the sender, and any other accounts or information visible in their profile.

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✓Repeat clearly and more than once: 'You have done nothing wrong. Someone sent you something they should not have. That is on them, not you.'
✓Ask gently whether the sender is someone they know or a stranger, and whether there has been any other contact from this person — but do not press if they are distressed.