This resource isn't for teens, it's for the youngest primary pupils. Why? Although there is awareness about teens choosing to or being coerced or tricked into sharing nudes online, this is about another issue altogether (although the principles taught here will also help children as they grow into the age of sexual experimentation later.

We want schools and parents to spread the message of Undressed to the very youngest primary pupils because law enforcement agencies such as NCA CEOP have repeatedly warned about sexual predators tricking young children into getting changed or undressed on camera by playing a ‘game’ or issuing a ‘challenge’ to see how fast they can get changed into different clothes or into a swimming costume. This might happen over video chat or livestreaming app; children often don't even know this has happened; videos are often taken and then circulated.

The Internet Watch Foundation has identified an increase in this trend during 2020 (IWF annual report) - and it's important to recognise that this happens in regular, safe families, while parents are in the house...sometimes the analysts notice the recording ending when a child is called for dinner! So this is something that affects all families. Read the IWF report above or these case studies (also IWF) of real children affected by this abuse strategy (the youngest was 7 years old but even younger children can be affected.

Please share this page widely, sing the song and and ask teachers and parents to add this simple online safety message to others already effectively communicated to many primary pupils. You may want to explain to others (send them here to undressed.lgfl.net if it is helpful) why this message is relevant to (especially) the youngest pupils who do not have the same capacity as older children to always realise when they are being tricked.

You will obviously need to be careful how you approach it (and if you aren’t the designated safeguarding lead, speak to them first), but if the youngest children have already internalised this simple message, then hopefully we make a difference.

Parents, please head to parentsafe.lgfl.net to find a portal we have made just for you with advice on a range of issues and signposting to resources from other great organisations.

The DigiSafe Team at LGfL is a centre of excellence in safeguarding, both online and beyond. We host a signposting portal to open-access resources on a range of safeguarding themes at saferesources.lgfl.net and support our 3,000+ schools with keeping children safe, whether through the technology we offer (filtering, for example), training and conferences for staff, or materials for pupils or parents.

Why not sign up to our newsletter or follow us @LGfLDigiSafe on Twitter or Facebook?

But DigiSafe is just one of the many teams at LGfL - we support schools with everything where education and technology meet, from providing internet connections to over 3000 schools around the country, to supporting with online learning, curriculum guidance, cybersecurity measures and even low-cost laptops. Check us out at lgfl.net or follow the main @LGfL accounts too on Twitter or Facebook as well.