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uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations adult messaging my child • online grooming messages • asking for sexual photos • asking for nudes • child sent nude • child pressured for pictures • sextortion threat • online blackmail of a child • stranger in dms • predator contacting my child • snapchat grooming • instagram grooming • whatsapp request for photos • discord grooming • fake profile as teen • sexual messages to a minor • explicit photo request • child sexual exploitation online • adult asking for pics

What to do if…
you discover an adult is messaging your child and asking for sexual photos

Short answer

Get your child to a calm, safe pause and stop the contact immediately, then report it (CEOP/police) while preserving the message details so professionals can act.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t confront, threaten, or negotiate with the adult (it can escalate and reduce chances of effective action).
  • Don’t pay, comply with demands, or “prove” anything if threats are involved.
  • Don’t forward, upload, or re-share any sexual images, and don’t ask your child to send you any images.
  • If any sexual images exist in the chat: don’t open, download, save, or screenshot them. Keep your focus on stopping contact and capturing non-image details.
  • Don’t delete chats/accounts in a rush if you might report (you can stop contact without wiping everything).
  • Don’t pressure your child to explain everything right now; keep them safe first.

What to do now

  1. Move to a safer pause and stay with your child. If the adult is making threats, asking to meet, or your child feels unsafe right now, treat it as urgent.

  2. Stop the contact immediately. Block the account, tighten privacy settings, and turn off location sharing (where applicable). If there are multiple accounts, block each one.

  3. Preserve key details (without handling images). Capture or write down:

    • the account/profile identifiers (username/handle, display name, profile link if available)
    • the platform/app and any phone number/email shown
    • dates/times of the requests and any threats or coercion
    • the message text (as safely as you can)

    If sexual images are present, avoid capturing them. If you need a record of the conversation, consider photographing the screen with another device while keeping any images off-screen.

  4. Report through the right route (UK).

    • If there is immediate danger or a threat to life: call 999.
    • Otherwise: report to CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) and/or contact police via 101 (or your local force’s online contact options).

  5. Report in the app/platform too (after you’ve captured key details). Use the platform’s reporting tools for “sexual exploitation of a child / grooming / solicitation.” This can help the platform act quickly and preserve records.

  6. Get immediate specialist support for your child (no pressure to report). Offer Childline (0800 1111) or Childline’s online chat options. Keep it optional and supportive.

  7. Get support for you as the adult who discovered it. If you need guidance on next steps or how to talk to your child, contact the NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) for adults concerned about a child.

  8. If any sexual image of your child may have been shared or is at risk of being shared: when your child is calm and ready, support them to use Report Remove (for under-18s in the UK) to confidentially seek removal help.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to tell school, other parents, or family beyond a strict need-to-know circle.
  • You do not need to do a full “deep dive” through your child’s phone right now; stabilise first and avoid turning this into an interrogation.
  • You do not need to figure out who the adult “really is” yourself—reporting routes exist for that.

Important reassurance

Many children comply with requests because they’re manipulated, threatened, flattered, or frightened—not because they “wanted it.” Your calm response (believing them, staying alongside them, and taking over the adult-facing steps) is protective and can reduce harm quickly.

Scope note

These are first steps to stop contact, reduce immediate risk, and connect you to specialist help. Later steps (school involvement, longer-term safety settings, counselling, and longer reporting decisions) can be handled once you and your child are steadier.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you believe a child is at immediate risk, contact emergency services. If you’re unsure what you’ve found means, it’s still appropriate to report concerns and ask for guidance—professionals can help you decide what matters.

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