Worried about something that's happened online?

The online world can be a positive space where you can keep in touch with friends and make new ones. But the internet can also be negatively used by people to target and hurt others. If you are ever worried about the way someone is communicating with you online or about online sexual abuse, there are steps you can take and lots of people that can help.

It is common to feel a mix of emotions if something happens online that makes you feel worried or uncomfortable. The situation might make you feel confused, angry, embarrassed, betrayed or guilty. You might start feeling these emotions when it happens, or much later on. There are no right or wrong ways to feel and remember you are never to blame.

What to do if you're worried about something online

Tell someone. The most important thing to do is tell someone you trust what has happened. Speak to a parent, carer, teacher or other trusted adult. They will understand and be able to help you. Take a look at our tips for having a difficult conversation with an adult.
Report to CEOP. If you are worried about online abuse or the way someone has been communicating online, report it to CEOP and they can support you.
Contact a support service. If you don’t feel like you can speak to an adult you know and trust, there are plenty of support services that offer free and confidential advice, like Childline and The Mix.
Remember it’s not your fault. If someone has pressured, forced or tricked you into sharing naked photos or videos of yourself or anyone else or doing anything you didn’t want to do, this is sexual abuse, and it’s never your fault.
Block the person who is contacting you. If you are receiving hurtful messages from someone online, you can block or report them to stop them contacting you.