A new hard-hitting campaign has been launched aimed at preventing children in Leeds from falling prey to online sexual predators posing as someone else.
The ‘Who are you really talking to?’ campaign looks to make young people in Leeds more aware of the dangers of chatting online to people they don’t know.
The Leeds Safeguarding Children Board and Leeds City Council have joined forces with West Yorkshire Police to launch the campaign during the school holidays, when more young people are expected to be using social media and internet chat rooms.
An animated image has been developed, which shows a young person talking online to someone who they believe to be their own age.
But the image morphs into an internet troll, representing an individual pretending to be someone else with the intention of online grooming.
Aimed at people aged 13-18, the campaign is part of ongoing efforts to help children and their parents spot the signs of child sexual exploitation and report it as well as being part of the council’s overall commitment to making Leeds a child friendly city.
Jane Held, chair of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board, said:
“With the summer holidays underway, we know that children and young people will be spending more time online, chatting to friends and potentially meeting new people.
“Unfortunately that also means that there is a greater risk of them becoming targets for online sexual predators.
“It is vital that young people are aware that the people they are talking to online may not always be who they say they are.
“Sexual predators are known to use the internet to groom young people, often adopting a persona to gain their victim’s trust.
“This campaign is aimed at providing young people with the important facts and information they need to spot the signs of online grooming and help them to protect themselves. It will also tell them where they can get help and advice if they need it.
“We need to give children and young people the information they need to make informed decisions and stay safe online.”
As well as raising awareness, the campaign tells young people what online grooming is, how to recognise it and provides information about how to surf the web safely.
It also warns against up-loading personal information online, which could identify where youngsters live and how to contact them.
Details will feature on relevant websites across Leeds where children and young people may be looking for things to do over the summer holidays as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
Information and advice for children and young people can be found at: http://www.leedslscb.org.uk/Children-Young-People/online-safety
