Grooming and cyberbullying are two of the most serious risks minors face online. Detecting them early can make an enormous difference. This guide helps you recognize the warning signs and know how to act.
Grooming is the process by which an adult gains a minor's trust online for purposes of sexual abuse. It usually starts on social networks, online games or messaging apps: the abuser poses as another minor or someone relatable, builds an emotional bond and then asks for photos, videos or meetings, often through threats or blackmail.
Cyberbullying is peer harassment through digital media: insults, public humiliation, spreading rumors or images, exclusion from groups and identity impersonation. Unlike traditional school bullying, it does not stop when class ends: it follows the minor around the clock through their phone.
Pay attention if your child becomes secretive with their phone, deletes conversations or history, gets anxious when notifications arrive, drops activities they used to enjoy, has sudden mood swings after going online, receives gifts or top-ups you cannot explain, or sneaks online late at night. No single sign is conclusive, but several together call for action.
Stay calm and talk to your child without blaming them: the minor is always the victim. Preserve the evidence (screenshots, messages, profiles), block the aggressor and report the case to the platform and to the authorities in your country, which in most cases have units specialized in digital crimes.
The best prevention combines frequent conversations about online risks with age-appropriate supervision. A parental control app like CatWatchful lets you detect early signals — unknown contacts, threatening messages, late-night activity — before the situation gets worse.