If you’re worried about how you’re behaving online, you need to seek help. This is true even if you’re worried you might get into trouble.
Making changes
Sometimes it can be really hard to make changes, even when we’ve decided we want to.
But there are actions you can take that will help you stick to your decision to avoid risky online sexual behaviour. What works for you will depend on things like:
- the behaviour you’re worried about
- your reasons for wanting to change
- your relationship with adults you trust
It can be helpful to try a few different methods to make sure you’re behaving in the safest way possible.
Here are some methods you might like to try:
- Change the settings on your social media accounts so they’re as private as possible. Here are some tips on looking after your privacy.
- Look for any signs that someone you’re talking to online isn’t who they say they are.
- Be careful not to share too much information with someone you’ve never met in person. This could include your home address or the school you go to.
- Think about what apps and websites you use. Delete any apps and block any websites you think may not be safe or appropriate. This could include ones where:
- you’ve seen illegal images
- you’ve had chats that are harmful, like when you’ve shared nudes of yourself with adults, or you’ve had a lot of sexual chat with people you don’t know.
- Work out what times you’re more likely to do something harmful online. Then think of something else you could do at these times. Or think of somewhere you could leave your devices so you can’t get online at these times.
- Write a list of reasons why you want to stop this online behaviour. Keep it somewhere you can look at it when you’re feeling tempted. This could be on your phone background, or on a Post-it note next to the computer.
It can be really helpful to write down a plan. You can then share the plan with the people around you.
We’ve created a Digital Safety Plan to help you think about the different steps you can take to keep yourself and other people safe.
And feel free to get in touch with our email service, if you’d like some help putting your plan together.
If you’ve already done something online that you regret, you might be feeling some big and painful emotions, and a lot of fear.
If that’s true, maybe take a look at our pages on dealing with regrets about harmful sexual behaviour and managing difficult emotions.
Find out about what harmful sexual behaviour is and what you can do if this is something you are worried about.
Read more
If you’re worried about harmful sexual behaviour, whether it’s your own or someone else’s, you may be experiencing some confusing emotions. Find out how to manage difficult emotions and get support for your mental health.
Read moreGetting help
Talking about your worries is the first step to getting the help you need. It takes courage to say you’ve done something harmful.
There are several safe online organisations that can help you. Which one you need depends on what’s worrying you.
Here are the details of some of them:
Childline is a free, confidential support helpline for anyone under 19 to discuss any issues they are going through. No problem is too big or too small.
CEOP is a law enforcement agency (part of the police) that is here to keep young people safe from sexual exploitation and abuse. You can make a report to CEOP online.
The Internet Watch Foundation works to protect children from online sexual abuse. You can report online child sexual abuse anonymously via their website.
More resources
Kooth
Your online mental wellbeing community
Youth Access
The advice and counselling network
The Mix
Free, confidential support for young people under 25 via online, social and mobile
If you’re visiting a website to get support, make sure it’s trustworthy and safe.
If anything on this page has upset you, or if something has happened that has upset or hurt you, then do speak with someone you trust so you can get help and support.
And for a full list of the services you can contact for support or information, please visit our list of other helpful organisations section.
