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uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations adult asking sexual questions • sexual chats in game • sexual messages in app • online grooming concern • stranger in game chat • adult messaging my child • explicit chat request • sexualised roleplay messages • inappropriate gaming messages • child contacted sexually online • predator in gaming app • unsafe app conversation • asking for sexual chat • adult pretending younger • child online exploitation worry • sexual talk in dm • suspicious chat in game

What to do if…
you discover an adult is asking your child for sexualised chats in a game or app

Short answer

Get your child away from that conversation, stay calm with them, and treat this as a safeguarding concern rather than something for them to handle alone. If there is any suggestion of meeting offline, threats, blackmail, or immediate risk, contact police straight away.

Do not do these things

  • Do not tell your child to keep replying so you can “see what happens”.
  • Do not confront the adult through your child’s account.
  • Do not ask your child to retell everything repeatedly right now.
  • Do not blame your child for replying, playing along, or not spotting it sooner.
  • Do not delete the chat immediately if you may need to make a report.
  • Do not share screenshots with friends, group chats, or other parents.
  • Do not arrange your own call, meeting, or “sting”.

What to do now

  1. Move your child to a calmer, safer pause and stop contact with that person now. Close the chat, take the device out of active use for the moment, and stay with your child while you deal with the next steps.

  2. Tell your child clearly that they are not in trouble and that this is not their fault. Keep your questions simple and practical, such as who the person claimed to be, where the chat happened, and whether they asked for photos, live video, secrecy, money, or a meetup.

  3. If you may want to report this, keep a limited record before anything disappears. Save screenshots showing the username, profile, platform, and the sexualised messages, and note the date and time if visible. Keep it factual and brief.

  4. Use the game or app’s reporting and blocking tools as soon as you have what you need for a report. Report the account for sexual contact with a child or grooming, then block it so the person cannot keep contacting your child there.

  5. You can make a report to CEOP if an adult has been making sexual advances or sexualised contact with your child online. This is a UK-specific route for concerns about online child sexual abuse and grooming involving under-18s.

  6. Contact the police on 999 if your child is in immediate danger, the adult is trying to meet them, knows where they are, or is making threats. If it is not an emergency but you need police involvement, call 101 or report it online to the police.

  7. Get support for your child the same day from a trusted safeguarding adult if needed, such as the school’s safeguarding lead, especially if the contact is ongoing, your child is distressed, or the person may try to re-contact them.

  8. If sexual images have already been shared or there is pressure to send them, do not negotiate with the adult. Focus on safety, reporting, and specialist support. If you need extra support as a parent or carer, the NSPCC Helpline can help you think through the next immediate steps.

What can wait

You do not need to decide today whether to keep using that game or app, change every privacy setting, or have a big “internet safety” talk. You also do not need to work out who the adult really is, prove their age, or run your own investigation before reporting.

Important reassurance

Children are often manipulated in ways that are confusing, flattering, secretive, or frightening. A calm response from you now can reduce shame and make it more likely your child will keep telling you important things.

Scope note

This is first steps only. Later decisions about safeguarding, school support, platform safety, or police follow-up may need specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, clinical, or investigative advice. In highly sensitive situations like this, the safest first priority is your child’s immediate emotional and physical safety, then using the appropriate reporting route.

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