What to Do If Your Child Sees Upsetting Content Online (Ages 5–10)

If your child sees upsetting content online, stay calm, thank them for telling you and listen before you explain anything. Then reassure them that they are safe, help them make sense of what they saw, and take simple steps to report it and make it less likely to happen again.

Most children aged 5 to 10 will come across something that worries or frightens them at some point, whether it is a violent clip, a scary video or something a friend showed them. It does not mean you have done anything wrong. This guide sets out the first things to do, what to say at different ages, how to report what they saw, and how to know if your child needs more support.

What should you do first if your child sees upsetting content online?

The first response matters more than anything you say afterwards. Children are watching your face and tone to decide whether what they saw is dangerous. These five calm steps work for most situations.

Why does upsetting online content affect young children so strongly?

Young children find it harder to tell what is real from what is pretend, and powerful images can stay in their minds long after the screen is off. Many videos also play automatically or arrive through friends, so a child may see something without choosing to.

Ofcom’s 2025 report found that 33% of 8 to 17-year-olds had seen something online in the past year that they found worrying or nasty. It also found that most children do tell someone, and 8 to 12-year-olds were the most likely to. That is encouraging, and it shows why the way you respond matters so much: it decides whether they come back to you next time.

How do you find out what your child actually saw?

Ask open, gentle questions and let your child lead. You need to understand what they saw and how they feel, but you do not need every detail, and you should not ask them to replay it.

• “What did you see? Tell me as much or as little as you like.”
• “How did it make you feel?”
• “Was it on your own screen, or did someone show you?”
• “Is there anything you are still thinking about?”

Listen for the feeling behind the answer. A child who says “it was just a video” may still be scared. If they find it hard to talk, try drawing, playing or walking side by side. Some children open up more when they are not looking at you.

What should you say, age by age?

Keep your words short and match them to your child’s age. You can always add more later if they ask.

Ages 5 to 7

Use very simple, reassuring language. For example: “That video was not for children. Some people make videos that are not kind. You did the right thing by telling me, and now you are safe with me.” Follow it with something comforting, such as a cuddle, a snack or a favourite activity.

Ages 8 to 10

Older children can cope with a little more explanation. For example: “Some videos show real things that are upsetting, and some are made just to shock people. It is normal to feel scared or confused. What matters is that we talk about it.” Invite their questions and answer honestly, without graphic detail.

How do you explain that not everything online is true or healthy?

Explain that people make videos for many reasons, including to get attention, to shock, or to make money, and that not everything online is true, safe or meant for children. A simple message works well: “Some things online are made to get a big reaction, so we pause and check with a Safe Adult.”

Over time, this helps children notice how content makes them feel. Our guide on helping children spot harmful online influences goes deeper on this, with ideas for everyday conversations.

What practical steps help after your child has seen something upsetting?

Once your child feels safe, deal with the practical side together. Doing this calmly shows them that a problem has a solution.

• Close the video or app. Do not leave it playing, and do not ask your child to look again.
• Block or mute the account that posted or sent it, using the app’s own tools.
• Report it to the platform. Most apps have a report button on the video or message. Ofcom says you should be able to report harmful content directly to the service.
• Use Report Harmful Content (reportharmfulcontent.com) if the platform does not act. It helps people escalate reports about content that breaks a platform’s community guidelines.
• Report illegal content. Child sexual abuse images can be reported anonymously to the Internet Watch Foundation (iwf.org.uk). Terrorist content can be reported through the government’s ACT service (act.campaign.gov.uk).
• Call 999 if a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger.

It is worth keeping a screenshot of anything that involved a person contacting your child, but do not share or forward upsetting images, even to report them elsewhere, unless a reporting service tells you to.

What if the video keeps appearing or is spreading among friends?

Upsetting videos often spread through group chats, playgrounds and shared devices, so a child may see the same clip more than once. Repeated exposure can make a child more anxious, so it is worth acting early.

• Ask your child gently whether other children are sharing it.
• Talk to the school so teachers can address it with the class or year group.
• Speak to other parents about what children are seeing and agree a shared approach.
• Check recommended and suggested videos, which can keep showing similar content.

Schools can help by reminding children that they can tell any member of staff, by teaching the “stop, close and tell” habit, and by letting parents know when a clip is circulating.

How can you make it less likely to happen again?

You cannot stop every upsetting image, but you can reduce the chances and make sure your child knows what to do. A few small habits make a real difference.

• Keep devices in shared spaces, especially for younger children.
• Use the parental controls and child profiles that your device and apps offer.
• Turn off autoplay where the app lets you.
• Watch together when you can, particularly with something new.
• Teach a simple plan: “Stop. Close it. Tell my Safe Adult.”

Practise the plan like a fire drill, in a relaxed moment, so it is automatic when it matters. Our guide on how to talk to your child about screen time has ideas for setting these habits without a row.

Why do some children not tell anyone?

Not every child speaks up, even when they are upset. Some worry they will be told off, lose their device or upset a parent. Others feel embarrassed, or think that what they saw must have been their fault. Some simply do not have the words yet.

You can make telling easier by saying often, in ordinary moments, “You can tell me anything you see online and you will never be in trouble for it.” Respond calmly the first time, even if you feel alarmed inside, because that first reaction teaches your child whether it is safe to tell you again.

What if your child asks questions you find hard to answer?

Children often ask direct questions, such as “Is that real?” or “Why would someone do that?” It is fine to answer honestly and briefly, and it is fine to say, “That is a good question, and I need to think about it.” You do not need a perfect answer straight away.

Aim to answer the feeling behind the question. A child asking “Could that happen to us?” usually needs reassurance first, such as “That is very unlikely, and my job is to keep you safe.” Then you can add a little more information if they ask for it. If a question worries you, come back to it later when you have had time to think.

How do you know if your child needs more support?

Most children recover quickly with calm reassurance. Some need more time, and it is worth watching for changes in behaviour over the following days and weeks.

• Trouble sleeping, bad dreams or wanting to sleep with you
• Becoming clingy, tearful or easily startled
• Asking the same questions again and again
• Avoiding screens, or becoming very anxious around them
• Acting out what they saw in play
• Changes in appetite, mood or behaviour at school

If these continue or seem to be getting worse, speak to your GP or your child’s school, who can help with next steps. The NSPCC helpline for adults is on 0808 800 5000. Children can call Childline free on 0800 1111, which is open to under-19s.

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Final Thoughts

Seeing something upsetting online is a frightening moment for a child and a worrying one for a parent, but it can also strengthen trust. When you stay calm, listen first, reassure and act together, your child learns that they can bring anything to you. Keep talking, keep the plan simple, and ask for help when you need it.

Sources

• Ofcom, Children and parents: media use and attitudes report 2025, 7 May 2025
• Ofcom, Harmful online content: how to report it and where to get help, accessed 23 October 2026
• UK Safer Internet Centre, Reporting harmful content online, accessed 23 October 2026
• NSPCC, Online safety, accessed 23 October 2026