Children taught detail about online sexual risks

Island children are being taught about deepfakes, nudifying apps, grooming and sextortion as authorities step up efforts to tackle online sexual risks.

The Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy Annual Report 2025 found schools and services were placing a greater focus on protecting young people in a "complex world of digital safety", amid concerns about harmful sexual content.

The report revealed 20 cases of child sexual exploitation, 96 of sexual abuse and 72 of harmful sexual behaviour were referred to safeguarding services in 2025.

In response, schools have expanded lessons on grooming and AI-generated deepfakes, while parents are being offered online safety guidance.

The report revealed work has been led through a multi-agency partnership involving education, health, police, children's services and safeguarding organisations, alongside third-sector groups such as Safer and the Youth Commission.

The States of Guernsey Digital Safety Lead, who works with schools across the Bailiwick, delivered 263 hours of digital safety education during the 2024-25 academic year.

According to the report, lessons have been tailored to children's ages and included topics such as "sexting and indecent images of children, sextortion and romance scams, online predators and consent, online friends, taking and sharing pictures, nudifying apps and grooming".

The report revealed a new lesson had been introduced in 2025 for year 10 students focusing on harmful online content and the risks posed by developments in technology "including those which come from harmful sexual content, pornography, child sexual abuse material, and deepfakes".

Officials said the emphasis on prevention reflected broader concerns about children's exposure to harmful sexual content and exploitation.

The report said there was growing concern about "the sexualisation of culture, the premature sexualisation of children, harmful sexual behaviours, child sexual exploitation in all its forms, sexual assault and violence, the use of pornography and rapidly changing sexual practices".

The report said during 2025, police recorded 258 sexual offences, representing a 9% increase on 2024.

The report does not link those cases to online activity but said digital safety had become an increasingly important area for schools, police, health services and safeguarding agencies.

Parents are also being targeted through awareness sessions designed to help families identify and respond to online risks, including grooming and other forms of sexual harm.

The report said all lessons delivered by the Digital Safety Lead are accompanied by a guide for families containing "further information and signposting" for parents and carers.

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