![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/online-grooming-mum-calls-on-government-for-more-help/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/126994479_gettyimages-1280049974.jpg&description=Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Cases of online abuse and harm have increased in recent years, according to a charityThe impact of online grooming on its young victims can be immense and wide ranging. An ever-increasing variety of social media platforms and means of communication have made the risk bigger than ever. As one young victim tells the BBC of her ordeal, there is growing concern that UK schools do not have the necessary resources and knowledge to help parents protect children from online harm or to identify those who are at risk, despite the best of efforts and intentions."I felt really betrayed. Why would you ever do that to someone?" said Sarah*, a teenage victim of online grooming.The 13-year-old said she was shocked and confused when she realised what had happened to her. The teenager thought the person who had approached her on Snapchat was a friend-of-a-friend, another teenager who liked her. The two had never met in real life but Sarah said the person she was talking to was very complimentary, telling her she was "gorgeous". As they shared messages, Sarah felt as if she had developed a trusting relationship with a peer, someone who cared for her.So when that same person asked Sarah to share explicit images of herself she felt she had no choice but to do so. "I didn't realise what was going on," she said. After sending the images, she was pressured and ultimately blackmailed into sending more.But as if the initial incident was not enough for the schoolgirl to contend with, the pictures caused even more distress for Sarah, much closer to home.Her Snapchat account was accessed by a pupil at her school and the images were found and subsequently distributed among other pupils, causing her even more pain."Initially it was embarrassment, anger and then shock," she said, adding: "I was a bit confused." Despite the huge trauma and emotional toll, Sarah kept quiet about what she was going through from her mother, Emma*.She only discovered what had ha){kind=link}
The impact of online grooming on its young victims can be immense and wide ranging. An ever-increasing variety of social media platforms and means of communication have made the risk bigger than ever. As one young victim tells the BBC of her ordeal, there is growing concern that UK schools do not have the necessary resources and knowledge to help parents protect children from online harm or to identify those who are at risk, despite the best of efforts and intentions.
“I felt really betrayed. Why would you ever do that to someone?” said Sarah*, a teenage victim of online grooming.
The 13-year-old said she was shocked and confused when she realised what had happened to her.
The teenager thought the person who had approached her on Snapchat was a friend-of-a-friend, another teenager who liked her.
The two had never met in real life but Sarah said the person she was talking to was very complimentary, telling her she was “gorgeous”.