What is online grooming?
We explain online grooming so you can stay safe and in control.
Sadly not everyone online is your friend
It’s easy for someone to pretend to be someone else.
- Even if they seem friendly they might end up hurting you
- It might start out fun but then turn scary or stressful
- It feels good when someone is nice to you, so it's easy to let your guard down
- Some people want you to let your guard down so they can take advantage of you
Starting an online relationship and wanting to make it sexual is against the law if you're under 16 – even if you never meet IRL.
How online grooming can happen
They might do any of these things or a combination of them:
- Like the same things as you
- Offer gifts or favours
- Say they love you or have never met anyone like you
- Are very understanding when you say 'no' at first
- Make you feel special
- Ask you for a favour
- Ask for photos
- Ask where you live
- Ask for videos
- Ask for your phone number
- Ask to meet up IRL
- Ask you to keep it secret
- Get angry with you
- Make you feel pressured
They might have a nice profile but you have no idea who they really are
Steer clear of suspicious behaviour
There’s a few things you can do to stay in control and shake off suspicious people you meet:
Trust your gut and if something seems ‘off’ then leave
Be wary of someone you don’t know who tries to be your friend
Be wary of someone who gives lots of compliments for no reason
Don’t respond to their attempts at being your friend; block them
Get an adult to help you report suspicious behaviour
Check your privacy settings and keep your details private
It’s easy to be tricked by someone online and it’s NOT your fault
If you're in this situation, we're here to tell you it's ok. We understand how things can easily get out of control even when you didn't mean for it to happen.
If you are worried about someone online, then try telling one of these adults about it:
- Parent or carer
- Teacher
- School counsellor
- Kids Helpline counsellor
- Older sibling or friend
- Police
We won't judge and are here to help
There's always someone you can talk to and get advice from
You don't have to deal with scary or stressful situations by yourself. In fact, getting help could be the best thing to do if you're confused or scared.
Kids Helpline is open 24/7. Give us a call, send us an email or talk to us on WebChat.
This content was last reviewed
