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As online environments continue to evolve, staying attuned to how communication changes is essential for keeping children safe.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafeguarding #safeguarding #childprotection

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The article makes a clear point: awareness, not alarm, is key. Supporting children to understand how online communication works, including how meaning can be hidden or coded, is an important part of prevention.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #safeguarding #childprotection

🧵 3/5

For children, this language can quickly become normalised. For adults, it can remain invisible until something concerning happens.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafeguarding #safeguarding #childprotection

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These forms of communication are often subtle, embedded in everyday interactions, and shaped by what some researchers call “algospeak” — language that evolves in response to how platforms detect & filter content.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #safeguarding #childprotection

🧵 1/5

Terms like “MAP” (minor-attracted person), alongside a wider ecosystem of euphemisms, numbers, & indirect references, can be used to mask harmful intent & avoid platform moderation.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafeguarding #safeguarding #childprotection

Teenagers and younger kids are learning coded predator phrases like ‘MAP’ online, long before their parents have even heard of it MAP, NOMAP and 764 are among the coded terms that all speak to pedophilia. Here’s how families can stay ahead of the risk.

This article from Dr. Sharlette A. Kellum highlights a growing challenge in online safety: children are often exposed to evolving, coded language before adults even know it exists.

🔗 tinyurl.com/44mc45hr

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#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafeguarding #safeguarding #childprotection

🧵 4/4

As the scale of these harms continues to grow, meaningful progress will depend on coordinated action — with prevention at its core.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #childprotection #childsafeguarding #childsafety #safeguarding #AI #AIharms #onlineharms

🧵 2/4

Alongside these findings are renewed calls for stronger action, including embedding technologies on children’s devices to prevent nude images from being created, shared, or received in the first place.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #childprotection #childsafeguarding #safeguarding #AI #onlineharms

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Where platforms were identified, over 40% of offences took place on Snapchat, with Meta platforms accounting for almost a quarter.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #childprotection #childsafeguarding #childsafety #safeguarding #AI #AIharms #onlineharms

🧵 6/6

As these figures show, tackling online exploitation requires continued collaboration across technology, policy & practice along with a sustained focus on both prevention & support.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #sextortion #sexploitation #childsafety #childsafeguarding

🧵 5/6

Alongside these findings, there are renewed calls for stronger action from tech companies, including improved detection tools & more robust safeguards to prevent harm before it occurs.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #sextortion #sexploitation #childsafety #childsafeguarding

🧵 4/6

The emotional impact can be devastating, with some cases tragically linked to suicide.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #sextortion #sexploitation #childsafety #childsafeguarding

🧵 3/6

Sextortion often begins with grooming. Offenders use manipulation, reassurance & trust-building to encourage young people to share intimate images, before escalating quickly to threats, coercion & blackmail.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #sextortion #childsafety #childsafeguarding

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The data also shows that boys aged 14–17 are disproportionately affected, accounting for 98% of reported cases.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #sextortion #sexploitation #childsafety #childsafeguarding

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In 2025 alone, 394 reports of blackmail were made by under-18s — a 34% increase on the previous year.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #sextortion #sexploitation #childsafety #childsafeguarding

Children in UK report online sextortion attempts in record numbers Exclusive: Call for nudity-detection tech on phones as number of under-18s reporting blackmail attempts rises by 34%

New figures from the Report Remove service highlight a deeply concerning trend: online sextortion attempts against children are rising in the UK.

🔗 tinyurl.com/3pxcze49

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#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #sextortion #sexploitation #childsafety #childsafeguarding

Tech firms enter legal limbo over child abuse scanning Scanning private online spaces for child abuse material becomes illegal in Europe on Saturday.

Tech firms play fast and loose with CSAM as EU agreement runs out.

www.politico.eu/article/tech... #onlineharms #digitalservicesact #childprotection

Karina Gould on Uncommons A conversation with Karina Gould about the future of progressive politics both nationally and in Ontario.

Two progressive #Liberal backbenchers in Federal #Canadian politics talk on #Uncommons podcast.

Talking about #OnlineHarms. How to make the most of #Ai, and protect against harms.

#Tech companies not being held to same standard in digital world. #Publicwrongs need to be addressed. #cdnpoli

Neuroscience explains why teens are so vulnerable to Big Tech social media platforms | The-14 Neuroscience reveals why teens are vulnerable to social media linking dopamine anxiety and design features to rising mental health risks and urgent regulation.

Neuroscience explains why teens are so vulnerable to Big Tech social media platforms
#SocialMedia #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #Teen #BigTech #DigitalAddiction #Dopamine #Youth #Depression #Anxiety #Psychology #TechRegulation #OnlineHarms #MediaCriticism
the-14.com/neuroscience...

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As discussions continue around regulation & restrictions, this initiative is an important reminder that equipping people to talk openly & confidently about online experiences is a key part of safeguarding.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafety #childsafeguarding #childprotection

🧵 3/4

The campaign highlights a key challenge: much of children’s online experience happens out of sight, making it harder for parents to know when and how to start these conversations.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafety #childsafeguarding #childprotection

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It comes in response to research showing that half of parents do not regularly speak to their children about these risks.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafety #childsafeguarding #childprotection

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The “You Won’t Know Until You Ask” campaign, being piloted in Yorkshire & the Midlands, aims to support parents in starting conversations about issues such as body-shaming, misogyny, & harmful content on social media.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafety #childsafeguarding

New advice to help parents discuss harmful online content A pilot project will offer support to parents when discussing online content with their children.

A new UK government initiative is placing a spotlight on an important but often difficult question: how do we talk to children about harmful online content?

🔗 tinyurl.com/2nejff7k

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#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafety #childsafeguarding #childprotection

🧵 4/4

Instead, digital resilience is strongest when young people are recognised as knowledgeable participants, with valuable insight into their own online experiences.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #cocreation #childprotection #childsafety

🧵 3/4

Crucially, the report finds that traditional online safety messaging often misses the mark, particularly when it feels generic, moralising, or places responsibility solely on young people themselves.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #cocreation #childprotection #childsafety

🧵 2/4

It also shows that risks such as scams & misinformation are becoming part of everyday online life for many young people.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #cocreation #childprotection #childsafety

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Working directly with high school students, the study highlights that online harm is often relational & peer-driven, taking place in group chats & shared spaces rather than through unknown strangers alone.

#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #cocreation #childprotection #childsafety

Young people expert in own digital lives - AUT News - AUT New AUT research says young people should be involved in developing campaigns to educate and protect them from online harms.

A new Digital Resilience research project with Netsafe New Zealand offers an important insight into how young people experience online harm and how we might better support them.

🔗 tinyurl.com/b3ytwvwt

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#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #cocreation #childprotection #childsafety

In Ottawa this week to fight for better legal protections from #onlineharms.

90% of Canadians want strong federal legislation to protect kids online.

Thanks to Ministers Sean Fraser, Marc Miller, and Evan Solomon for meeting to talk about upcoming federal action on online safety.