The shocking rise of grooming in the uk
The digital age has brought many benefits, but it's also exposed our children to new dangers. In the UK, we're facing a troubling surge in online sexual abuse targeting kids.
Let's look at what's happening and how we're fighting back.
The Numbers
The numbers are shocking. Since 2019, there's been a massive jump in websites showing abusive images of young children. It's not just a small increase – we're talking over 1,000% more. This spike happened when everyone was stuck at home during lockdowns, showing how being online more can lead to greater risks.
The scale of online grooming crimes against children is equally troubling. In the last five years, UK police recorded almost 34,000 online grooming crimes, with one in four of these crimes targeting primary school children. The widespread use of social media platforms has facilitated this abuse, with 73% of these crimes involving Snapchat and Meta.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has released alarming new data on the prevalence of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. In 2024, the IWF took action to remove CSAM or links to such content from 291,273 web pages, marking the highest number since their records began in 2014. This staggering figure underscores the growing challenge of combating online child exploitation.
What’s being done?
The police are working hard, arresting about 450 people and protecting over 600 children each month. But it's a huge task – they estimate that there are around 80,000 people in the UK who pose an online threat to kids.
Now, criminals are using new tech like AI to create fake abuse images. They're taking real photos of children and using AI to make them look naked or putting kids' faces on existing abuse pictures. It's a scary new development for parents and children.
But there's hope. The government is stepping up with new rules to protect children online. The Online Safety Act is coming soon, and it'll make social media companies and search engines responsible for keeping kids safe from harmful content. They're also making new laws about things like cyber-flashing and fake porn videos.
Leading the way
The UK is also leading the way in fighting AI-generated abuse. Soon, it'll be illegal to have or make AI tools for creating child abuse material. Anyone caught could go to prison for up to 5 years. They're also cracking down on AI-made guides for abusers.
These new laws are a big step forward. As the online world keeps changing, it's crucial that we keep updating our defences to protect our kids.
At Big Sister, we advocate for children's safety online. Our app marks a positive change in the way that our children are protected online, using flags and alerts to warn parents of dangerous content without breaking down trust and privacy barriers between children and adults.
Find out more about how to protect your children online without breaking their trust in our latest blog here.
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