Online sexual harassment

What you need to know

Online sexual harassment is unwanted sexual behaviour on any digital platform. Online sexual harassment can include a range of behaviours using comments, messages, photographs or videos.

Harassment can be public or private. Generative AI technologies, such as deepfakes, can be misused to create hurtful or threatening content, such as a sexual image or video of someone.

Children and young people can become victims of unacceptable online behaviours, which can make them feel threatened, upset, sexualised, exploited, coerced, humiliated or discriminated against.

Victim blaming remains a prevalent issue around online sexual harassment and this can create barriers to making disclosures or getting help. It is important that children and young understand the importance of healthy and respectful attitudes online and are empowered to safely challenge all forms of online abuse and get help if they need it.

Welsh Government Guidance

Challenging victim blaming language and behaviours when dealing with the online experiences of children and young people
This guidance describes the language, attitudes and behaviours that can be considered victim blaming when talking about the online experiences of children and young people.

Training

Understanding, preventing and responding to incidents of online sexual harassment
This training module can support professionals who work with children and young people with the understanding needed to help prevent or respond to any instances of online sexual harassment within their school or setting.