MODULE 3
What Is Online Grooming?
Online grooming is when someone builds a relationship with a child, teen, or vulnerable adult with the intention of exploiting them – emotionally, financially, sexually, or in other harmful ways.
Groomers slowly break down boundaries, create trust, and isolate their targets from safe people like family, friends, teachers, or support networks.
Key Learning Goals
- Understand the stages of grooming and how they overlap.
- See where predators hide – in games, DMs, livestreams, and “safe” apps.
- Spot common red flags and manipulation tactics early.
- Practise safe responses using realistic scenarios.
- Complete a 20-question red-flag quiz and learn what to do next.
Timeline of Grooming
Click each stage below to see how predators slowly move from “friendly” to dangerous.
Where Predators Hide Online
Groomers do not only appear on “dodgy” sites. They often use the exact same platforms that young people use every day.
Common Red Flags
These behaviours are strong warning signs that someone may be trying to groom or exploit you.
- They ask you to keep your chats secret from family, carers, or teachers.
- They compliment you excessively and very quickly – “no one understands you like I do”.
- They move conversations to more private spaces (new apps, new accounts, hidden chats).
- They ask very personal questions about your body, relationships, or sexuality.
- They become angry, sulky, or guilt-tripping if you reply slowly or try to leave.
- They send you gifts or game items and then remind you what they “did for you”.
- They dislike your family/friends and call them controlling, nosy, or “toxic”.
- They ask for photos on timers, private snaps, or content “just for them”.
- They claim to be an “industry contact” (modelling, music, esports, influencing) but refuse to prove it safely.
- They threaten to share screenshots or photos if you don’t do what they say.
Healthy Online Interactions
Real friends respect your boundaries, never pressure you for private content, and don’t ask you to hide conversations from people who keep you safe.
Interactive Scenarios
Choose a scenario below to see how grooming can start in different ways.
20-Question Groomer Red-Flag Quiz
For each statement, decide whether it is a red flag (True) or not a red flag (False). Learn from the explanation after each answer.
If Any of This Feels Familiar…
If someone online is making you feel unsafe, pressured, frightened, or trapped, please speak to a trusted adult or support organisation as soon as you can.
- Tell a parent, carer, teacher, or school safeguarding lead.
- Save evidence: screenshots, usernames, links, dates, and times.
- Block and report the account on the platform.
You are never to blame for being targeted.
