Unlock the Editor’s Digest without spending a dime
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite tales on this weekly publication.
Being on-line gives loads of alternatives, from doing analysis and making connections to watching movies and taking part in video games. However spending time on-line additionally comes with dangers, and it’s vital to know the way to take care of troublesome conditions.
Listed below are some steps you may take to assist with some particular eventualities.
You’re being bullied or harassed on-line
In case you are being bullied you may, and will, get assist. On-line bullying is simply as severe as bullying in particular person, and with fixed notifications, it will possibly typically even really feel more durable to flee.
On-line bullying can take many types, together with messages, edited pictures, excluding or harassing somebody, or the non-consensual sharing of photos or info.
For those who expertise on-line bullying, there are some things you are able to do:
-
Don’t ignore it: On-line bullying is rarely OK, and ignoring it gained’t assist the state of affairs. Assist and help is on the market.
-
Don’t retaliate: Though it may be tempting to say one thing unkind again, this might escalate the state of affairs, and you could possibly find yourself getting in bother.
-
Block the particular person: This can assist forestall them from contacting you once more.
-
Report the content material: Social media providers and video games ought to take away or take care of content material or contact that breaks its phrases and circumstances, and in plenty of instances this consists of bullying. Reporting is nameless — the particular person gained’t know that it was you that reported them. Learn the way to report bullying on completely different platforms right here.
-
Save the proof: Take screenshots should you can, or preserve a document of any behaviour which types a part of the bullying.
-
Discuss to somebody: There are a lot of individuals who can help you reminiscent of dad and mom, carers, lecturers, or pals. It’s also possible to speak to a helpline. Within the UK these embrace Childline and The Combine. Discover a helpline in your nation by visiting Baby Helpline Worldwide.
Somebody threatens to share intimate photos of you on-line
Sextortion is a sort of blackmail when somebody threatens to share nude photos, semi-nudes or sexual details about somebody, except the sufferer pays cash or agrees to do one thing else, reminiscent of share extra photos. These threats can use actual or pretend photos. There are additionally different conditions the place somebody might threaten to share photos as they assume it’s a joke, or as a result of they need revenge.
Navigating the Digital World
A nude picture of somebody underneath the age of 18 breaks the regulation within the UK, as it’s thought-about an indecent picture of a kid. This consists of AI-generated photos. Sharing another person’s nude photos with out their consent is all the time unlawful, no matter age. Most nations may have comparable legal guidelines on this subject.
If this occurs to you, don’t blame your self. You may be feeling nervous, embarrassed, and scared you will get into bother, however assist and help is on the market.
Step one is to cease all communication with anybody who’s blackmailing you and save any proof. This could possibly be taking screenshots of the particular person’s profile, messages which have been despatched, their username, e mail tackle, telephone quantity and financial institution particulars. Don’t delete any messages, photos or movies you’ve despatched, as these could possibly be helpful when reporting. Don’t pay any cash or settle for their calls for.
Inform a trusted grownup, reminiscent of a guardian, carer, instructor, help employee or youth employee, as quickly as doable. You possibly can additionally contact Childline or The Combine within the UK, or discover a helpline in your nation.
You may, and will, report what has occurred to the police. Sextortion is a criminal offense in lots of nations.
When you’ve got the unique photos in your gadget, and if somebody is threatening to share them extra broadly, you may report these photos utilizing Take It Down. While you report the content material, the workforce will work exhausting to take it down or to forestall it from being uploaded altogether.
Bear in mind: You aren’t alone, and it’s by no means too late to get assist.
Your pal is saying or sharing hateful content material on-line
On-line hate is any communication or content material which seeks to isolate, harass, or goal a person or group based mostly on their id (eg race, faith, gender, sexuality). On-line hate is dangerous and may break the regulation.
Taking motion towards on-line hate can troublesome, particularly if it’s being posted by somebody you realize, so you could be tempted to disregard it. Nevertheless, there are some things you are able to do, together with:
-
Reporting the content material to the web platform.
-
Sending a non-public message of help to those that could also be focused.
-
Privately talking to somebody about why what they’ve mentioned or posted will not be OK.
-
Speaking to a trusted grownup to hunt assist or help with subsequent steps. For those who assume a publish is inciting violence in the direction of an individual or group, you may report it to the police.
It’s also possible to block or mute influencers or others who you see posting hateful content material.
You’re scammed on-line
Scams are more and more changing into part of on-line life for many individuals, together with underneath 18s. Our analysis for Safer Web Day 2025 discovered that nearly half of 8 to 17-year-olds have been scammed on-line, with a fifth of younger individuals realizing somebody their age who has misplaced cash.
Attainable indicators of a rip-off embrace:
-
If one thing appears too good to be true (eg hard-to-find live performance tickets at an affordable value).
-
Being contacted out of the blue (eg being instructed you’ve gained a contest if you didn’t enter one).
-
Being requested on your private particulars.
-
Being requested to pay or switch cash.
Whereas some scams could appear simple to identify, scammers are good at what they do and use completely different strategies to focus on individuals and make them extra susceptible. Don’t really feel ashamed about getting assist.
It’s by no means too late to talk to a trusted grownup about what’s occurred, or should you desire you could possibly contact a helpline in your nation.
You may report a rip-off to the location or platform the place it has been hosted. When you’ve got misplaced cash, or have given your card particulars to somebody on-line, contact your financial institution instantly. In case you are sufferer to a rip-off on-line you could want to communicate to the police.
Becca Cawthorne works for Childnet, a UK-based organisation which works with kids and younger individuals to assist make them safer on-line
