Get help right now
Stay calm. You have found this page — that is the right first step. Follow the guidance below and contact the right people. You are not alone in this.
Call or report right now — all free, all confidential
Free. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For children and young people up to age 19.
childline.org.ukFor sexual exploitation or grooming of a child online. Specialist police unit — use the report button on their site.
ceop.police.ukTo report illegal images or videos of children online. They can get content removed from the internet.
iwf.org.uk/reportIf intimate images have been shared without consent. Free image removal support. Mon–Fri 10am–4pm.
revengepornhelpline.org.ukWhat happened? Choose your situation
Select the situation that best matches what has happened. You will see exactly what to do next.
Do not confront the person contacting your child
Do not message them, warn them, or let your child respond. Any contact could alert them to delete evidence or escalate. Stay calm and move to step 2.
Preserve the evidence — screenshot everything
Take screenshots of all messages, profiles, usernames, and any images sent. Include timestamps where visible. Do this before blocking or reporting, as blocking can remove your access to the evidence. Save the screenshots somewhere secure — email them to yourself.
Report to CEOP immediately
CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) is the specialist police unit for this. Use the report button on their website — it goes directly to trained officers. You do not need to contact your local police first.
Report and block on the platform
After screenshotting, report the account on the platform (every app has a report function). Then block the person. Report to the platform as well as CEOP — platforms can act quickly to remove accounts.
Support your child — what to say
Tell your child: "You have done nothing wrong. This person behaved badly, not you. I am not angry with you. We are going to sort this together." Avoid asking lots of questions right now — let them lead. If they need to talk to someone independently, Childline is available 24/7 on 0800 1111.
Document where the images appear
Screenshot or record the URL of every location where the images appear. Do not download or forward the images — this could create legal complications. Just record the web addresses.
Contact the Revenge Porn Helpline for image removal
They specialise in getting intimate images removed from the internet quickly and for free. This is their core purpose — they are very effective. Call 0345 600 0459 or use their online form.
Report to the Internet Watch Foundation
If the images involve anyone under 18, report to the IWF. They have the legal power to force platforms and websites to remove content, and they work quickly.
Know your legal rights
Under the Online Safety Act 2023, sharing intimate images without consent is a criminal offence in England and Wales — regardless of whether the person in the image consented to the original image being taken. You can report to your local police. Reference the Online Safety Act when you do.
Support your child right now
"This is not your fault. Sharing that image without your permission is a crime — the person who did this is in the wrong, not you. We are going to get it removed and I am here." Avoid looking at the images with your child or asking them to describe them in detail. Focus on what you are doing to fix it.
⚠️ Most important thing first: do not pay them
Payment never ends the threat — it proves you will pay and the demands escalate. This is a known criminal pattern. The right response is to report immediately.
Stop all contact with the person threatening you
Do not respond to their messages. Do not pay. Do not send more images. Any response — even to say you won't pay — continues the contact they want.
Screenshot all messages and threats before blocking
Screenshot the conversation, the threats, their profile, and any account details. Do this before blocking. These are your evidence for the police.
Report to CEOP right now
Sextortion is a serious criminal offence and CEOP deals with it regularly. They will not judge your child. Their reports go to specialist officers trained for exactly this situation.
Block and report on the platform
After reporting to CEOP, block and report the account on every platform they contacted your child on. Most platforms have a specific "sextortion" or "blackmail" category in their report menu.
What to say to your child
"You are not in trouble. You have not done anything that makes this your fault. These people do this to many young people — it is organised crime. We have reported them to the police and they will deal with it. You are safe."
If your child is very distressed, Childline at 0800 1111 has counsellors available 24/7 who specifically support young people in this situation.
Document the bullying — screenshot everything
Screenshot all messages, posts, comments, and the profiles of anyone involved. Include timestamps. Save to a folder with the date. Do this before blocking anyone, as blocking may remove your access to the content.
Report on the platform
Every platform has a reporting function. Report the specific posts, comments, or accounts. Use the most specific category — "harassment" or "bullying" rather than generic "other". Platforms act faster on specific reports. Then block the person.
Contact the school if the bullying involves classmates
Schools have a legal duty to address bullying, including cyberbullying, even when it takes place outside school. Contact the head of year or DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) with your screenshots. Ask for a written response and a clear action plan.
Contact police if threats are made
If the bullying includes threats of violence, threats to share images, or targeted harassment over a sustained period, contact your local police. Bring your screenshots. Cyberbullying that involves threats is a criminal matter.
Support your child's wellbeing
Cyberbullying can cause serious mental health harm. Watch for signs of anxiety, depression, or withdrawal. If your child is struggling, speak to your GP or contact Young Minds (youngminds.org.uk). For immediate support Childline is available at 0800 1111.
Stay calm and listen first
Your reaction sets the tone. If you respond with shock or anger, your child may feel they have done something wrong and become less likely to tell you next time. Say "Thank you for telling me. You have done the right thing."
Report the content
If the content is illegal (sexual images of children, content promoting violence or terrorism), report it to the Internet Watch Foundation and/or the platform it appeared on. You do not need to record or keep the content to report it.
Talk it through — but keep it brief and age-appropriate
Ask open questions: "How are you feeling about it?" rather than asking them to describe what they saw in detail. Validate their feelings ("It makes sense that was upsetting"). Reassure them that seeing something does not mean anything bad about them.
Review how the content reached them
Was it a recommendation algorithm? A link from a friend? A group chat? Understanding how they got there helps you decide what controls to put in place. Check our platform settings hub for step-by-step safety settings for the relevant app.
Monitor in the coming days
Some children are fine after a few hours. Others are affected for longer — disturbed sleep, anxiety, or changes in behaviour. If you are concerned about your child's mental health, speak to your GP. Childline also supports children affected by disturbing content at 0800 1111.
Understand what you are dealing with
AI companions like Character.AI and Replika are designed to be engaging and emotionally responsive. Children can form strong attachments very quickly. This is by design — the platforms benefit from continued use. It is not your child's fault and it is not a sign of weakness.
Start a conversation — not a confrontation
Do not ban the app immediately without talking first. Ask curious questions: "Tell me about the character you've been talking to — what do you like about them?" Understanding what need the AI is meeting (companionship, being understood, no judgement) tells you what to address in real life.
If the AI has said something harmful or inappropriate
Screenshot the conversation. Report to the platform — Character.AI, Replika and others have reporting mechanisms. If the content sexualised your child or involved an adult posing as an AI to contact them, report to CEOP immediately.
Set boundaries gradually, not suddenly
Sudden removal of an AI companion a child is attached to can cause genuine distress — similar to losing a friend. Work together on agreed limits: specific times when the app is off, screen-free spaces, and crucially, building real-world social connection to reduce reliance on the AI.
When to seek professional support
If your child is spending many hours a day with AI companions, is distressed when separated from the app, or is withdrawing from real relationships, speak to your GP. This may warrant a referral to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). Read our full guide on AI and chatbot risks for more detail.
What not to do
These are the most common mistakes parents make in the first few hours. Avoiding them protects both the evidence and your child.
Don't confront the person directly — It alerts them to delete evidence and can make the situation more dangerous.
Don't delete messages or accounts — This destroys evidence the police need. Screenshot first, then block.
Don't pay if being blackmailed — It never stops the threat. It proves you'll pay and demands escalate immediately.
Don't blame your child — Whatever happened, they need your support right now. Blame closes down communication permanently.
Don't share or forward images — Even to show other people or document them. This can create legal complications for you.
Don't wait to see if it blows over — These situations escalate quickly. The sooner you report, the better the outcome.
You are doing the right thing by being here
Whatever has happened, the fact that you are looking for help and taking this seriously is what matters. These situations can be resolved. Children recover. Families get through this.
The organisations above — CEOP, Childline, the IWF, and the Revenge Porn Helpline — exist specifically for these situations. They are not there to judge you or your child. They are there to help, and they are very good at it.
You are not alone. Call 0800 1111 if you need to talk to someone right now.
Next steps for your family
Parents hub
Guides, tools, and conversation scripts to help you protect your child going forward.
Lock down their accounts
Step-by-step privacy settings for every platform your child uses.
Conversation guide
Age-matched scripts for talking to your child about what happened and what changes you're making together.