A child may hurt themselves or cannot stay safe
Stay with them. In the United States, call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis support. Call emergency services at 911 when there is immediate danger.
Help Now
You do not have to handle an online crisis alone.
Choose the situation that is closest to what is happening. Begin with safety, keep your response calm, and involve trusted help.
Begin here
Lead with safety—not blame.
A child may already feel frightened or ashamed. Tell them clearly that they did the right thing by coming to you and that you will take the next steps together.
I’m glad you told me. You are not in trouble. We’re going to handle this together.
Choose the closest situation
Trusted next steps, without searching through a long FAQ.
Call or text 988
Someone is threatening to share an intimate image
Reassure the child that they are not in trouble. Do not pay, send more material, or redistribute the image. Preserve account and threat details and report the crime.
An adult or unknown person contacted a child sexually
Stop contact, preserve non-explicit account information, and make a CyberTipline report. Contact law enforcement when there is a threat or coercion. Call emergency services at 911 when there is immediate danger.
A child is being bullied or targeted online
Do not respond or forward the messages. Record dates and descriptions, save screenshots or texts, then block and report through the platform and school when appropriate.
In an image or sextortion crisis
Protect the child and the evidence.
- Do not blame or punish the child for disclosing.
- Do not pay or continue negotiating with the offender.
- Do not download, forward, or ask someone to send an explicit image of a minor.
- Do preserve usernames, profile links, dates, threats, and payment requests.
After immediate safety
Return to the fuller conversation.
A crisis response is the beginning of support—not the end of trust.
Read the complete guide