The internet offers children a lot of fun, useful and useful content, but on the other hand it exposes them to new dangers. Namely, it is also used by people who have bad intentions or who can also abuse a child online.

It’s very likely that the people you’re talking to online aren’t really who they say they are. Therefore, we advise you to be extremely careful when using the internet and not to disclose your personal details.

Sexual assailants who use the nternet can be of any age, men or women and there is no stereotype that the perpetrators of sexual offenses are “neglected and evil old men”.

Children, how can you protect yourself from possible abuse? - advice from police

• Always use a nickname other than your name when entering the chat room.

• Don't provide your personal details (your name, home or email address, phone or mobile phone, which school you go to, where your parents work, your parents' name ...).

• Don't send your pictures to anyone, not even with a cell phone.

• Don't make an appointment to meet someone you’ve met online.

• Don’t open emails you receive from people you don’t know. They may contain unpleasant images or viruses that damage your computer.

• Don't click on links sent to you by an acquaintance from the internet. They can contain pictures and records that will make you uncomfortable.

• If someone has put you at a disadvantage on the internet or is torturing and harassing you, tell your parents or guardians. It's not your fault you're getting messages like that.

• Some websites have the ability to block a person so they can no longer talk to you. You can report it to the website moderator.

• Don't use the "private" function in chat rooms.

• Don’t respond to obscene and rude messages.

Preventive advice for parents

• Get information about the internet, its possibilities, offer, use ...

• Spend time with your child online. Let him/her teach you something about his/her favorite websites.

• Talk to your child and explain to him/her about sexual victimization and the potential dangers online.

• Keep track of when and how much time your child spends online. Keep the computer in the room where all family members enter.

• The computer used by your child should be protected by a filter that blocks inappropriate content (family filters, content filters ...).

• Find out what control of the internet is like at your child's school or at a friend with whom your child spends a lot of time.

• Make arrangements with your child, that:
  • without your permission and knowledge, he/she does't tell anyone his/her name, surname, address, telephone number, which school he/she goes to, where you work;
  • he/she should not send his/her photographs to anyone without first telling you about it;
  • your child should never arrange to meet someone he/she have met online without telling you or getting your permission;
  • if he/she finds pages online that make him/her feel uncomfortable or scared, let him/her tell you right away;
  • he/she should not respond to messages that make him/her feel bad or uncomfortable (tell him/her that it is not his/her fault that he/she received such a message; let him/her tell you immediately);

• Tell him/her that the people he/she talks to over the internet may not be what they pretend to be.

• If your child tells you that he/she has encountered inappropriate content or that you find it yourself, inform your internet service provider and the police, or submit a report to the Spletno oko (Web Eye).

Some individuals search for their targets online and patiently mislead them with attention and kindness, as well as promises and gifts. These people are willing to spend a lot of time, money and energy to achieve their goal. They listen to the child, understand him/her and help him/her solve problems. They gain the child's trust and then slowly lure him/her into conversations with sexual content. Some are content to talk about sexuality, others do it to obtain images or footage that we refer to as pornographic material they collect or traffick in it, however these can only be preparatory acts for meeting a child live.

Showing, producing, possessing and transmitting pornographic material is a criminal offense under Article 176 of the Criminal Code.

Related content

Internet security
Cyber violence and sexual abuse of children online
Awareness centre SAFE.SI 
Spletno oko (Web Eye)