Who Are You Talking To Online?

14 October 2026 | Blog | By: CIG Communications

For children aged 5–11 

Making friends online 

Games, apps and websites can help us learn, play and have fun together. But someone you meet online might not be who they say they are—even if their picture or voice seems real. 

They might seem friendly, like the same games as you or say they are your age. Ask a parent or caregiver which games and apps you can use and who you can talk to. 

 

Keep personal things private 

Do not tell someone you only know online your full name, home address, school or where you are right now. 

Ask a trusted adult before sharing photos or videos. Never share passwords or a parent’s bank or card details. 

No one should ask you to send pictures of the private parts of your body, show them on camera or look at someone else’s private parts. If this happens, stop and tell an adult you trust—even if you know the person.

 

It is okay to stop talking 

You do not have to reply just because someone messages you, even if you have played or talked together before. 

If someone makes you worried, asks you to keep your chats secret or keeps asking you to do something you do not want to do, stop chatting and tell a trusted adult. They can help you block and report the person. 

Do not arrange to meet someone you only know online. Tell a parent or caregiver if someone asks to meet you. 

 

Tell an adult you trust 

Tell a parent, caregiver, teacher or another adult you trust if something online worries you. 

You can ask for help even if you have already replied, shared something or broken a rule. If someone is pressuring or hurting you, it is not your fault. 

If the first adult you tell does not help, tell another trusted adult. 

You do not have to keep a worrying secret or deal with it alone. 

 

Who Can You Trust Online? 

For young people aged 12–17 

Connecting online 

Being online can help you build friendships and connect with people who share your interests, from music and sport to gaming. 

But not everyone you meet online is who they claim to be. Profiles and photos can be copied, and voices or videos can be altered or generated to create a convincing false identity. 

Someone may seem to share your interests, say they are your age or give you lots of attention. Take your time, protect your privacy and remember that a convincing profile or video call does not prove someone’s identity. 

 

Know when something is not right 

A conversation might start normally but change over time. Someone may: 

  • Keep messaging or demand immediate replies. 

  • Ask increasingly personal or sexual questions. 

  • Pressure you to move to a private chat or turn on your camera. 

  • Ask you to keep conversations secret. 

  • Offer gifts or money in exchange for images or favours. 

  • Make you feel guilty, frightened or threatened when you say no. 

 

These behaviours can come from someone you only know online or someone you already know. You do not need to prove that their intentions are harmful before asking for help. 

 

Think before you share 

Protect information such as your home address, live location, school, passwords and verification codes. Check your privacy settings and who can see your posts. 

Do not send nude or sexual images or videos, or let someone pressure you into sexual activity on camera. Images and calls can be saved or recorded without your knowledge. 

Someone who respects you should respect your boundaries. Having shared something before does not mean you have to share anything else. 

If someone you only know online asks to meet, speak to a trusted adult before making any plans. Do not agree to a secret meeting. 

 

Pressure is not friendship 

You do not owe someone your time, attention, money, information or images because you have been talking to them. 

If someone ignores your boundaries, stop responding and ask for help. You can use the platform’s tools to report and block them. 

 

If something has already happened 

If you have shared information or an image, or done something you now wish you had not, you still deserve help. Someone else’s decision to pressure, threaten or exploit you is not your fault. 

Speak to a parent, caregiver, teacher, school counsellor or another trusted adult. If the first person you tell does not help, tell someone else. 

If someone threatens to share an intimate image or video: 

  • Stop responding. 

  • Do not pay or send more images, even if you have already done so. 

  • Ask a trusted adult to help you report the threats. 

  • Keep the account name and threatening messages where safe, but do not forward intimate images or videos. 

  • Report and block the account with help if needed. 

You can get help even if the image is fake or you are unsure whether the person actually has it. 

 

Where to get help 

You can report concerns to your local police station or contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): 

Telephone: +1 (345) 945-0545 
Email: MASH@gov.ky 
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5 pm 

For urgent concerns outside those hours, contact RCIPS on +1 (345) 949-4222 or your local police station. 

If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. 

You do not have to deal with the situation alone. 

Last updated: 14 Oct 2036