Internet Grooming

What is Internet Grooming?

what is grooming

Internet Grooming happens when an adult tries to gain the affection and the attachment of a child with the goal of getting sexual content using social media.

In many cases, the adult performing internet grooming can pretend to be another child or teenager with the purpose of getting his/her confidence in a easier way. This process may last weeks or even months in some cases, with the goal of befriending the child or gaining the child's friendship step by step, as a way to receive compromised content from them. Sometimes, this content can be obtained using threats, and after succeeding, it can be used to blackmail them with the obtained content in order to get even more content.

Internet Grooming is considered the first steps of sexual abuse, as the ultimate goal of this practice is the sexual satisfaction of the adult.


How can we fight Internet Grooming?

  • Avoid uploading images or personal information on social media, as you can be more vulnerable against strangers.

  • Avoid your photos or personal info from being stolen, protect your computer with antivirus, update your software frequently and create strong passwords. In these articles we teach you and

  • Never yield against blackmail, because it would only worsen the child's condition. Also, it would improve the abuser status which would have great suggestive power.

  • In case the information was already stolen (pictures, videos or any other sort of data) ask for help to an adult of trust or somebody prepared for this kind of situations (parents, teachers, the police...)

  • Reduce the abuser power by restricting the possibility of this situation from happening again. Make a deep clean of the device, removing any malware it may have and changing the passwords in a more strong way if possible.

  • Gather every evidence you can use to demonstrate this crime, make screenshots of conversations, messages, everything that can prove it.

  • Finally, fill a complaint form to the authorities, it’s the only way to avoid this abuser from continuing harassing the child or other children.

Nowadays, we can see how often in the networks there are challenges that become viral.

Sometimes they are for good cause like the “Ice Bucket Challenge” where you had to throw buckets of ice water to raise awareness about the ELA. But these challenges do not remain here, there are also other ones that can lead to serious injuries.

Check your questions and doubts on the Internet Segura 4 Kids phone

Today I bring good news to all of you, especially for the little ones at home and their families. There is already a phone number you can call to check your doubts and questions about security and the threats of the internet! It’s a completely free phone number. It has been created to solve your doubts and answer your questions about safety and threats of the internet. It’s aimed not only at parents and educators, but also at kids and teenagers who might need it.