The IWF's Report Remove tool is a real game changer for keeping our kids safe online - Helen Westerman

In this week’s column, I would like to focus on a practical tool that Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation have recently launched to help children and young people who have, for whatever reason, shared an indecent image of themselves online. This tool, which I believe to be a real game changer, underlines the importance of partnership working in helping to keep our children safe online. It is called the Report Remove tool and can be used by any young person under 18 to report a nude image or video of themselves that has appeared online.

There are many different reasons why a child or young person may have shared an indecent image or video of themselves. Some may have sent an image for fun, or to a boyfriend or girlfriend which has then been shared without their consent. Others may have been groomed online or blackmailed into sharing this content. At Childline we know all too well the devastating impact this can have on some young people.