Social Media APP Bulletin - The Park Community School
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Social Media APP Bulletin
Author: Diane Howells
CSE Analyst at South West Regional Organised Crime Unit
SWROCUStrategic@avonandsomerset.police.uk
Month: April 2019
This document contains apps/websites of note that have
appeared in Child Sexual Exploitation or Abuse cases in
the South West region. The document may also contain
apps/websites that are prominent in other regions or
are believed to be an emerging issue.
If you have any apps you believe may be used in the
facilitation of CSE/A please send an email to the above
address.
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03/05/2019
Social Media APP Bulletin
Author: Diane Howells
CSE Analyst at South West Regional Organised Crime Unit
Month: April 2019
For use within your own organisation and for staff only.
Not to be shared with outside agencies.
Can be used for parental bulletins.
Please email the below mailbox if further advice is
required
SWROCUStrategic@avonandsomerset.police.uk
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03/05/2019Social Media APP Bulletin
www.telegraph.co.uk
“Bait Groups” or “Bait Out Groups”
Bait Groups are groups set up on various apps such as Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook for the purpose of humiliating and
“naming and shaming” people who have either sent indecent images or videos of themselves online or had these images shared
without their permission.
The majority of victims targeted in these groups have been young girls and several are under the age of 18, these images are
illegal to share and are classed as child pornography.
Bait Groups are created by users who share indecent images amongst group members with the intention of identifying the
individuals/victims in the pictures or videos. Once identified the victims typically receive abuse from others, in some cases victims
have been mistakenly identified but still receive abuse.
In the South West groups have been named after schools and locations where victims have a connection to, members are
typically added to these groups if they have connections to these locations, this increases the risk posed to the victim.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/27/bait-groups-police-warning-sexual-images-children-shared-social/
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03/05/2019Social Media APP Bulletin
Gumtree
Gumtree is free site that allows people to advertise goods and services for sale. Gumtree is an online website and app. There have
been a few incidents in the region involving Gumtree where young people using the site have been targeted by suspects.
Gumtree states that it only allows people 18 or over to post on their site however there is nothing in place on the site to verify
ages. There is a function on the app and the main website that allows messages to be sent between the seller and potential buyer,
emails will remain hidden, this function allows contact to be made without exchanging mobile numbers.
Further safety advice and how to report suspicious or inappropriate activity to Gumtree can be found on the following sites.
https://help.gumtree.com/s/article/Getting-it-Right-Being-safe-on-Gumtree
https://help.gumtree.com/s/article/How-do-I-report-something-to-you
Case Study
A 15yr old girl posted an ad to sell unwanted clothes; she received a phone call from an unknown male who stated that he had
seen her ad and made several vulgar comments towards her. The victim handed the phone to her mum who took control of the
conversation and notified the police.
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03/05/2019Social Media APP Bulletin
Avakin Life – 3D Virtual World
Avakin life is a free mobile gaming app where the users can create their own avatar in a 3D online world. Features include dressing
up, designing a home, exploring different locations in the 3D world and in app buys. The game allows users to chat with users all
over the world privately or in open chat; this chat feature could result in unwanted contact from other users.
The game is for ages 13 and over, anyone who admits to being younger will be removed from the site. An age must be entered
before signing up but there is nothing in place to verify the users age.
If unwanted or inappropriate messages are received from others the user can use the block function and/or send a ‘Grief Report’
directly to the site moderators who will read the most recent chats and take the appropriate action.
Safety advice for users and parents can be found on the below site including parental advice on enabling restrictions on in-game
purchasing and applying for refunds if the user has made purchases without permission.
https://www.avakin.com/safety/#1487323419339-1905dd7c-2180
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03/05/2019Social Media APP Bulletin
ChildLine and the Internet Watch Foundation have come together to provide a service where children can
request the removal of sexual images of themselves which have been shared online. As part of that process the
child would be asked to provide a link to where the image is stored online, rather than send the image itself.
The child is also required to verify their identity and age and this is done through the YOTI app. YOTI will not
store images of the child’s ID following the verification process.
Below are a couple of online resources which contain details regarding this service:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/sexting - There is a section which covers
what you can do if you’ve lost control of a sexual image and refers to the YOTI app.
https://contentreporting.childline.org.uk – This is the portal where you can report images and videos for take
down and again refers to using the app to verify age.
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03/05/2019Social Media APP Bulletin
Below are a number of resources to help educate adults and young people around the issue of online safety and app
security:
SWGfL has launched a new reporting centre to assist the public in reporting online abuse and harmful content. The service
provides up to date information on community standards and direct links to the correct reporting facilities across multiple
platforms.
Advice is provided on online issues such as bullying, harassment, threats, impersonation, unwanted sexual advances, violent
content, suicide, self-harm and pornographic content. Report Harmful Content Online https://reportharmfulcontent.online/
The UK safer internet centre; where you can find e-safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay
safe online. For help and advice contact: 0344 3814772 or helpline@saferinternet.org.uk
The Revenge porn hotline; the only organisation providing such a service in the UK, providing support and advice to the
victims of the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and cyber-enabled blackmail (known as sextortion).
POSH (The Professionals Online Safety Helpline); The Professionals Online Safety Helpline is a free service for all
professionals and volunteers working with children and young people. It provides signposting, advice and mediation to
resolve online safety issues staff face about themselves, such as protecting professional identity and online harassment, or
problems affecting young people, for example cyber-bullying or sexting issues. Where appropriate we can also provide advice
or facilitate in the removal on harmful content. POSH have created good relationships with many of the giant tech companies
and are a great place to start if you have any concerns with a particular site or App.
UK Safer internet centre Professionals Online Safety Helpline Revenge porn helpline Protecting young people from online grooming
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