Some of the young people using our service have been posting explicit sexual images of themselves onto social networking sites. They say it began as a dare, but that now everyone is doing it. Some of the comments left by viewers are really disturbing. What can we do?
This is fast becoming a major problem and one that has the potential for online grooming both now and in the future.
More and more social networking websites are being used to exploit vulnerable young people who think there is no harm in posting pictures of themselves. However, once these photos are uploaded, they can be shared with no control by the young person and never be deleted.
Your local authority might have an online safety co-ordinator to help you alert young people to the consequences of posting explicit imagery on the web. The young people probably don’t realise how much risk is involved or understand who is able to see the photos.
Answered by Jeanie Lynch, who works for Barnardo’s and has 25 years’ experience of working with vulnerable children and families
Email questions, marked “Experts”, to cypnow@markallengroup.com
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