Malicious communication - Stay Safe Partnership

Outcomes
  • help parents and carers gain and understanding of what is considered an offence under the Malicious Communications Act 1988
  • explore the impacts of such behaviours
  • provide help and advice regarding how we can best support young people
Service Description

Malicious communication is the act of sending messages, pictures and, or videos with the intention of causing distress or anxiety to another person. Some examples of malicious communication include:

  • threats - verbal or written threats of violence or harm to someone or their property
  • harassment - repeatedly sending messages that are insulting, offensive or upsetting
  • offensive messages - sending messages that are sexually suggestive, extremely rude or discriminatory
  • inappropriate images - sharing embarrassing photos or videos of another individual without their consent
  • false information - knowingly spreading false information about someone with the intent to cause them harm or distress. Pretending to be someone else to trick someone

The impact of malicious communication

Such communication can have a serious impact on children’s emotional wellbeing. They can feel scared, anxious and depressed as a result. In some cases, it can lead to self-harm and, or suicide.

If someone is found guilty of a malicious communication offence, they could face expulsion from school and criminal charges. The maximum sentence for such offences is a custodial sentence of up to two years, an unlimited fine and a criminal record.

Recommendations to protect your child from malicious communication

Don't respond

It can be tricky, but it is important children try not to engage with hurtful messages, as this can often make things worse. Use the report features available on the apps and then block that person from making further contact. If they create a new account to continue contact with you, use the mute feature to stop getting notifications from them.

Communication is key

Taking an interest in our children's online lives, for example: 

  • asking them who they are chatting to
  • what games they are playing

This will make them more confident to talk to you when things go wrong. Although it can be tempting to take devices away when things go wrong, as a method of protection, this has been shown to put a barrier up and stop children telling adults about concerns. Instead, work together to deal with the issue. Report together, block together and praise them for talking to you.

Teach them online safety practices

This includes things like:

  • not sharing personal information online
  • being careful about who they befriend
  • being selective about what they post

Know your reporting options

Most social media platforms and websites have ways to report malicious communication. Take screenshots as a way of collecting evidence, as you may want to consider reporting it to the police.

Helping our children to be good digital citizens

Teaching your child to be a good digital citizen can feel overwhelming, but it just requires the same key behaviours we already teach our children when navigating the real world.

Remind them to show respect for others and their boundaries, be polite and speak with kindness. If we are feeling angry or overwhelmed, we can take some time and space away. Don't respond to unkind comments. Instead, get help from a trusted adult. Remind them that their words online have real-life consequences.

It is important to have regular conversations about what they are doing and who they are talking to. Discuss things that upset them online and ways to regulate themselves when emotions get high. Children can often say or do things out of anger that they later regret, so reinforce the need to stop and think before reacting. Work with them to establish clear boundaries for how we speak to others and what is acceptable.

Further information