Protecting From Extreme Content: A Parents’ Guide
Read time: 5 minutes
Written by:
Chief Inspector Edward Miles
Lead Responsible Officer for Children, Counter Terrorism Policing
Content warning: This article discusses online extremism and contains information some readers may find upsetting.
Why children are at risk this summer
With the school holidays well underway, most parents are thinking about sunscreen, days out and keeping their children entertained.
But there’s a growing and deeply worrying threat that often goes unnoticed – one that’s happening quietly, behind closed doors, and often just metres away.
Children are increasingly being targeted and groomed into terrorism offences online. And the children we’re seeing aren’t just teenagers – some are incredibly young.
Earlier this summer, Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, and the National Crime Agency issued their first-ever joint warning to parents urging vigilance during the school holidays when our children are especially vulnerable to online threats.
I encourage every parent to take 15 minutes to talk to their children about what they’re seeing online. It could be the most important conversation you have.
The rise in child terrorism cases linked to online grooming
Children have always been part of our safeguarding work – particularly through the Prevent programme, which is focused on early intervention and support.
As the Lead Responsible Officer for Children in Counter Terrorism Policing, and as a parent myself, I’ve watched with concern the rise in the number of children drawn into terrorism investigations.
In fact, a fifth of all terrorism arrests in 2023 involved people under the age of 17 – 42 children or young people in total. Whilst this figure decreased slightly in 2024, with 39 arrests, the presence of children in our casework remains high.
With just a few clicks, children can find themselves in direct contact with dangerous and extreme content online deliberately designed to recruit and radicalise them.
What dangerous digital content are children accessing?
We have investigated cases where children have accessed violent and extreme content online, including terrorist propaganda, bomb-making guides, and even indecent images of children.
They are exposing themselves to trauma, alone, in their bedrooms, whilst their parents may be in the next room completely unaware.
We go to great lengths to protect our children from harm in the physical world. But are we doing enough in the online space?
A global problem affecting households across the UK
This isn’t isolated to the UK. Every one of our “Five Eyes” partners – Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US – are grappling with this issue.
We recently published a joint report, the first of its kind, highlighting the global nature and severity of this threat.
How extremists exploit children’s curiosity online
Our children are curious. They want to belong. And terrorists know how to exploit that.
We regularly see memes that normalise violence, extremist content disguised as games, and online communities that offer false belonging and purpose to our children.
With more unsupervised time during the summer holidays, children are at even greater risk. And whilst we all try to juggle work and parenting, we must not underestimate just how easily our children can stumble across dangerous material.
Parental guidance: Safeguarding kids from online threats
Open conversations with our children are at the heart of prevention – and that can be difficult.
Start by talking to your child about what they might see online. Not in an accusatory way, but with curiosity and trust. Let them know it’s OK to talk about what they see. That you’re there to support them, and that they won’t get in trouble for being honest.
I’ve found InternetMatters.org really helpful in guiding these conversations. I used their advice to start discussions with my own children, particularly as my eldest prepares to move to secondary school this year.
Struggling to talk to your child about online safety?
Here are 5 conversation tips to make the discussion easier.
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- Explore together how time online affects their mood and feelings Quick tip: Encourage small goals, like taking breaks, mixing online and offline activities, or setting gentle timers.
- Discuss what to do if something online makes them uncomfortable or worried Quick tip: Reassure children that asking for help is OK. Give examples of safe responses (e.g. ignore, block, ask for help).
- Start a conversation about the kind of content they enjoy watching and engaging with Quick tip: Use this insight to guide positive content choices and spot any potential red flags.
- Check in: are they comfortable asking you if they’re unsure about something they’ve seen online? Quick tip: Nurture open conversations to build trust.
- Keep it regular and light Regular, shorter chats work better than one long “big talk.” Keeping it ongoing helps your child understand online safety as just a normal part of life.
Know the signs
Despite everyone’s best efforts, children may still come across inappropriate content online. If you’re concerned, you are not alone – and there’s help.
As parents, we can:
- Speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead at schools
- Speak to our local authority
- Speak to local police
ActEarly is a great website full of useful information to learn more about signs, support and next steps.
The sooner we intervene, the better the chance of supporting the child and avoiding criminalisation.
Prevention, not prosecution
No counter terrorism investigator signs up wanting to arrest children.
Wherever possible, we look for outcomes that divert children away from the justice system, not into it.
The Prevent strategy is central to this approach. It gives us the tools to intervene early. Where there are concerns about a child being drawn into extremism, Prevent allows us to build a multi-agency support plan – one that can include education, mentoring and mental health support.
The message I believe every parent should know about digital safety
This isn’t about fear. It’s about empowerment.
We all have a role to play in keeping our communities – and our children – safe. And the most powerful thing we can do is raise awareness and find opportunities to start the conversation.
It could be the most important conversation you have.
For further tips on online safety visit internetmatters.org