PanicStation.org
UK USA
us 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 • imessage sextortion • discord grooming • fake profile as teen • sexual messages to a minor • explicit photo request • child 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, stop the contact immediately, and report it (NCMEC CyberTipline / law enforcement) 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 make things worse).
  • Don’t pay money or comply with demands 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 may report (you can stop contact without wiping everything).
  • Don’t pressure your child for a full explanation right now; safety first.

What to do now

  1. Get to a safer pause and stay with your child. If the adult is making threats, asking to meet, or you believe there’s immediate danger, treat it as urgent.

  2. Stop the contact immediately. Block the account, tighten privacy settings, and turn off location sharing on the app/device (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 and off shared/cloud storage where possible.

  4. Report using the right route (USA).

    • If your child is in immediate danger: call 911.
    • Otherwise: file a report with NCMEC’s CyberTipline (the U.S. centralized reporting system for suspected online exploitation of children) and consider reporting to your local law enforcement as well.

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

  6. If any sexual image of your child may exist or could be shared: consider NCMEC’s Take It Down service (for images/videos taken when someone was under 18) as one step that may help reduce further spread.

  7. If threats, money demands, or ongoing coercion are involved: consider contacting the FBI (for example, via a local field office or an online tip option), in addition to the CyberTipline and local police.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether to tell school, other parents, or extended family—keep sharing on a strict need-to-know basis.
  • You do not need to “solve” the adult’s identity yourself; reporting systems exist for investigation.
  • You do not need to do a full device audit while your child is panicking—stabilize first.

Important reassurance

Children can be manipulated, threatened, or frightened into responding—this is not a “bad choice” problem. The most protective thing you can do is stay calm, take over the reporting steps, and make sure your child isn’t dealing with the adult alone.

Scope note

These are first steps to stop contact, preserve enough information for professionals to act, and connect you to specialist help. Longer-term steps (ongoing safety settings, school plans, counselling, and broader reporting decisions) can come later when things are steadier.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call emergency services. If you’re unsure whether what you found “counts,” it’s still appropriate to report concerns—professionals can help you decide what matters.

Additional Resources
Support us