I have a child at high school and as a parent I’ve tried to be open and honest about most things including online safety as I know does the school. So imagine my horror to discover that my child had been groomed online after adding someone they didn’t know on a social media site. Not only had they been sexually groomed but then blackmailed by this vile creature for a substantial amount of money. In what can only be described as panic and shame my child gave in to their demands before eventually breaking down to me about what was happening to them and I’m so thankful they did. Obviously I can’t go in to detail as the matter is with the police (who along with the school have been fantastic) but I wanted to share this warning as I feel I did everything I should, I know their passcodes, I have access to their phone, I talk regularly about safe practices and yet my child still fell victim to a predator. I can never undo what’s been done to them and as a parent that kills me, but I can share this information and maybe stop it from happening to your child.