Online Harms

What are online harms?

Being online is a feature of everyday life for the most children and is a part of how they play, learn and communicate.

Online technology has many benefits, however children are more vulnerable to its risks and harms. It can have an impact on children's well-being, and they can also be harmed or abused online by both adults and other children, whether they know them offline or only interact with them online.

The scope of online harms is broad and constantly changing, particularly with the rapid development of AI. This technology can be misused to create and share child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), also known as AI-CSAM.

All children are potentially at risk from online harms and abuse, but those who are more vulnerable offline are more likely to face dangers online as well.

Protecting children from online harms and abuse

The Online Safety Act (2023) has created new laws for protecting children and adults on the internet. These new rules are now being put into place and are outlined here.

Everyone, especially children, need to be protected from online harms. Adults are responsible for their own online safety and for helping children understand how to behave, stay safe online and take action when there are concerns.

What should I do if I have concerns about online abuse?

If you are a professional and concerned about online harms or abuse of a child, you can find more information in the Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children from Online Harms procedure.

Always discuss your concerns with the senior person in your organisation who is responsible for safeguarding and child protection.

If you are a young person, parent or carer, you can seek support from a professional working with you. Harmful and illegal content online can be reported, see Online Reporting. The police or children's social care should be contacted when you have concerns a child is being abused.

Resources

There are a range of resources to raise awareness of online safety and help parents, carers and professionals to keep children and young people safe online.

Local resources

Locally Derby city council and Safer Derbyshire have webpages about online safety. Derbyshire constabulary have a webpage about online child abuse. Other local resources include:

DDSCP Briefing Notes: Harmful online challenges and hoaxes, Communication and engaging parents about online safety, Online bullying, Nudes and semi-nudes, and Healthier screentime and accompanying infographic.
I-vengers - online safety for children.
Safer Derbyshire resources - Cyberchoices toolkit, Digital MOT self assessment tool and Online Safety Act awareness films.