What should I do first if my child may be unsafe online?

Stay calm, protect the child, reduce unsafe contact, avoid blame, preserve evidence where safe, and use the correct reporting pathway for your region.

Should I delete messages or block the person straight away?

Do not delete messages first if there may be threats, grooming, blackmail, sexual requests, exploitation, or image-based abuse. Evidence may matter. Preserve usernames, messages, links, timestamps, screenshots, and platform details where safe, then reduce unsafe contact.

What if the situation involves threats, sexual requests, blackmail, or meeting plans?

Treat it as urgent. Support the child, preserve evidence safely, avoid contacting the suspected person, use urgent help and official reporting pathways, and contact emergency services if there is immediate danger.

Report & Get Help • POSH

If something feels serious, don’t wait for certainty

PROTECT. PRESERVE. REPORT.

Most parents hesitate because they are unsure what step comes first. This page removes that confusion and moves you into the correct path quickly: protect the child, preserve what matters, report through the right pathway, and support the child afterwards.

You do not need perfect proof.
You need the next correct step.

If there is immediate danger, contact your local emergency service first.

I Need Help Now First 24 Hours Save Evidence Choose Region

Which state sounds most like you right now?

This feels urgent now I need to save evidence first I need the right reporting region I already reported

You don’t need to solve everything in one moment. Follow the correct order and avoid the mistakes that can make reporting harder.

Need help right now?

Sexual messages, threats, blackmail, image-based abuse, coercion, or meeting requests need immediate action.

If the situation feels active, move out of research mode and into response mode now.

Do not wait for perfect proof if the child may be unsafe.

First 24 Hours Save Evidence Sextortion Help Blackmail Help Report Australia

The correct order

Protect child

↓

Preserve evidence safely

↓

Record details

↓

Report properly

↓

Support child

Changing the order can make the situation harder, especially if evidence is lost, the child shuts down, or panic takes over.

Step 1 — Protect the child

Stay calm. Keep them safe. Reduce contact. Do not blame them. Do not make the child feel like telling you has made everything worse.

Safety comes before everything else.

If the child is in immediate physical danger, contact your local emergency service first.

First 24 Hours What To Say Check Device If They Won’t Talk

Step 2 — Preserve evidence safely

Screenshots

Usernames and display names

Profile links, group links, server names, or account IDs

Dates, times, app names, game names, and platform names

Threats, messages, requests, gifts, payments, Robux, skins, or currency evidence

Any mention of meeting, secrecy, blackmail, photos, or moving to another app

Do not delete first. Do not confront the suspected person. Do not forward illegal images.

How to Save Evidence What Not To Do With Evidence Report Without Making It Worse First 24 Hours

Step 3 — Know what kind of report this may be

Different online harms need different pathways. This section helps parents choose the right direction without getting stuck in panic.

Threats, blackmail or coercion

If someone is threatening your child, pressuring them, demanding more images, or saying they will expose them, treat it as serious.

Blackmail Help

AI nudify, deepfake or fake images

If fake sexual images, AI-generated abuse, or altered images are involved, preserve evidence safely and use image-removal pathways.

AI Image Abuse

Image removal or takedown

If an image has been posted, shared, threatened, or used for control, move quickly and use the correct takedown pathway.

Image Removal

Sadistic or humiliation-based exploitation

Some online abuse is designed to cause fear, shame, humiliation, or control. Parents should not minimise it as normal drama.

Exploitation Warning

First-day photo safety

Some risks start with information parents innocently share. School uniforms, locations, names, routines, and landmarks can expose children.

Photo Safety

Safe adult network

Children are safer when more trusted adults know how to respond calmly and escalate properly.

Safe Adult Card

Step 4 — Choose your region

POSH is Australian-built, but online safety is global. Choose the region that fits your family, then follow the official pathway for that country or area.

Australia Official Australia Pathways USA UK Europe

Use your country page for the correct reporting process, support services, platform pathways, and escalation options.

Report on the platform too

Platform reports can help remove accounts, messages, groups, profiles, or content, but they should not replace official reporting when a child may be at risk.

Report inside the app or platform.
Save evidence before blocking where safe.
Keep screenshots or confirmation of the platform report.
Record the username, profile link, server, group, game, or chat location.
Do not send threats or warnings to the suspected person.

Discord Snapchat Instagram TikTok

Common reporting mistakes to avoid

Deleting everything first

This can remove important messages, usernames, timestamps, links, threats, and account details.

Confronting the person

This can trigger deletion, escalation, threats, or more pressure on the child.

Blaming the child

Shame can make children hide more, protect the secret, or stop telling adults what is happening.

Evidence Mistakes Report Safely What To Say

After reporting

Reporting is not the end of the safety process. The child still needs reassurance, emotional support, device safety, and trusted adults around them.

Reassure your child that they did the right thing by telling someone.
Monitor behaviour, sleep, mood, school changes, fear, shame, or withdrawal.
Adjust device safety and privacy settings.
Keep communication open instead of fear-based.
Decide which safe adults need to know enough to support the child.
Follow up with reporting services if more evidence appears.

Device Safety Parent Scripts Red Flags Rebuild Trust

New POSH reporting & evidence cluster

These pages strengthen the reporting system around evidence safety, image abuse, AI risks, official pathways, and whole-family protection.

Sadistic Online Exploitation AI Nudify & Deepfake Risks Take It Down & Image Removal First-Day Photo Safety Report Without Making It Worse Official Australia Pathways Safe Adult Network Card What Not To Do With Evidence

Key takeaway

Most parents freeze because they do not know the order.

This page gives you that order.

Protect → Preserve Safely → Report Properly → Support

Best next pages

First 24 Hours Save Evidence Evidence Mistakes Report Safely Reporting Australia Official Australia Pathways Image Removal Safe Adult Network