Attack on our childrenHow to protect children from cybergrooming
Cybergrooming is a crime with a high level of unreported crime. Several thousand cases are recorded in the police crime statistics every year. However, most crimes are not even reported. In a survey of children and young people on the subject of cybergrooming, only 7% of those affected stated that they had contacted the police about their problem. However, almost one in four children (24%) had already been affected by some form of cybergrooming. For example, by being asked to meet up or to send (nude) pictures of themselves, or by being sent nude photos by their chat partners.
Briefly explained: What is cybergrooming?
Cybergrooming refers to the targeted initiation of sexual contact with children and young people on the internet. Popular platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat as well as online games such as Fortnite are used as "initiation platforms". The perpetrators often try to engage the adolescents in conversations that initially seem harmless. Once contact has been established, communication is continued on more private channels such as WhatsApp. This is where the sexual abuse ultimately takes place or is intensified. The children and young people receive intimate or pornographic images, for example. They are asked to send nude photos or videos of themselves. Sometimes they are also asked to perform sexual acts on themselves or third parties in front of the camera. In some cases, they are even asked to meet up with the person.
How to protect your children from cybergrooming
Sexual violence on the internet is a reality for many children and young people today. They are using social networks and online games independently at an ever earlier age. Unlike offline, it is normal for them to come into contact with people they do not know personally. This is why adolescents need to know how to recognize cybergrooming and how to defend themselves against it.
- Keep in regular contact with your child about their media experiences. We show you how you can have good conversationsin this article.
- Children quickly come across unsuitable content on the internet that they are not yet able to deal with. Therefore, give your child access to age-appropriate surfing areas depending on their age and stage of development.
- Make security settings on the devices your child uses. Free parental control programs can help to ensure that your child can only use online services that are suitable for their age. You should also agree rules with older children about which services can be used and to what extent.
- Find out exactly what online services and platforms your child wants to use. Get to know the respective protective measures there and set these together with your child (e.g. privacy settings). Show them the blocking and reporting functions.
- Your children should know what risks may be associated with their media use. Explain about unwanted contact, sexual harassment and sexual abuse on the internet. Don't scare your child, but support and empower them:
- set their own boundaries if they feel uncomfortable online,
- to recognize warning signals and to be able to stop and report unwanted contact,
- get help if they have experienced sexual violence online.
- If your child is affected by sexual violence and tells you about it, it is important to remain calm. Listen carefully to the child and take the right measures, e.g. take legally compliant screenshots or recordings for evidence. Attention: If intimate recordings of children under the age of 14 have also been sent, first contact the police to find out how you should proceed to preserve evidence so as not to make yourself liable to prosecution. Seek legal advice, for example from HateAid, and psychological help , for example from the sexual abuse help portal. You can also file a complaint with the police.
We have listed further help and reporting centers for you below.
klicksafe materials on the topic of cybergrooming
For educational professionals and schools
Our materials for schools and extracurricular youth work provide educational professionals with comprehensive information on the topic of cybergrooming. In addition to this detailed factual information, the materials also contain practical projects for working with children and young people.
Teachers should also take note of our materials for young people and parents (see below) on the topic. These can be ordered from us and distributed to pupils or parents.
For parents
How can I make my child strong against cybergrooming? What technical protective measures are there and how do I talk to my child? Our materials will help you as parents and guardians to protect your child in the best possible way.
For young people
How can children and young people protect themselves from cybergrooming and defend themselves against it? In cooperation with the online advice platform JUUUPORT , klicksafe has developed brochures and videos for young people.
Here you can find help - advice for those affected and their relatives
- The Help-Portal Sexual Abuse is a service of the Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse Issues and N.I.N.A. e.V.. It offers a lot of information on the topic and helps you to find help and advice services locally . It also offers free and anonymous telephone advice (also multilingual and in sign language) and online advice. This makes it a free and anonymous point of contact for those affected by sexual violence, for relatives and people from the social environment of children, for professionals and for all interested parties.
Telephone: 0800 - 22 55 530, Mon,Wed. & Fri.: 9 am - 2 pm; Tue. & Thurs.: 3 pm - 8 pm
Online counseling: www.schreib-ollie.de - Nummer gegen Kummer e.V. offers anonymous and free telephone counseling for children, young people and parents. Children and young people can also contact the em@il counseling of the "Nummer gegen Kummer".
Children's and young people's helpline Tel.: 116 111, Mon to Sat from 2 to 8 p.m.
Parents' helpline Tel.: 0800 - 111 0 550, Mon to Fri from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays until 7 p.m. - JUUUPORT is a nationwide advice platform where young people can help each other if they have problems on or with the internet. Whether it's cyberbullying, rip-offs, data security or technology - young people canask questions on all web topics at www.juuuport.de.
- Anyone affected by cybergrooming can report these assaults to ZEBRA . The report will be checked by the NRW Media Authority and forwarded to the North Rhine-Westphalia Central and Contact Point for Cybercrime. There is a handout on the reporting form for educational professionals.