Internet Safety

If you are worried that someone is using the Internet in a way that may be harmful to children, you must take action.  It is very disturbing to suspect that someone we know may be looking at abusive images of children and/or sexually abusing a child, especially if that person is a friend or family member.  We tend to deny these thoughts, but it is better to discuss the situation with someone right away rather than wait and find out that we were right to be worried.

Thousands of people every year discover that a friend or family member has sexually harmed a child.  Abused children and their families need help to recover from their experiences, and people who are sexually harmful to children need specialized help to stop their abusive behaviors.  This is difficult for all involved, but help is available for both victims and offenders, and it may well be the best way to prevent further harm.

Finally, men, women and young people who are using the Internet because of a sexual interest in children and/or to sexually abuse them must be held accountable and seek help to stop these abusive behaviors immediately. 

There may be cause for concern about the behavior of someone who:

  • Starts to spend increasing amounts of time on the Internet and become preoccupied with it
  • Is online so frequently that it starts to impact their family and/or work life
  • Becomes emotionally distant and less available to family, friends and colleagues
  • Withdraws from usual family and social activities
  • Becomes secretive about their online activity, shutting the door of the room where they are using the computer and changing the screen if someone enters the room
  • Regularly makes excuses for needing to work online
  • Increases their viewing of adult pornography
  • Regularly uses the Internet late at night
  • Makes promises not to go online frequently and then breaks them
  • Changes their sexual attitudes and preferences
  • Hides traces of their online activity and storage of files
  • Uses the Internet with children while excluding other adults; and/or
  • Meets up with children, young people and/or adults in real life whom they initially met online

All of these behaviors may have logical explanations and be caused by other factors in a person’s life, however, they may be inappropriate. If you are worried, talk to someone you trust or call the PCA Georgia HELPLINE at 1-800-CHILDREN (244-5373). The HELPLINE is a confidential, toll-free and available from 8 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.

If after reading this information, you have concerns about yourself or someone you know, or if you suspect that a child you know is being abused, act NOW! Taking action can prevent abuse protect children. Report abuse immediately.  If you are unsure if abuse is occurring or about a person’s behavior, call the Prevent Child Abuse Georgia HELPLINE at 1-800-CHILDREN to learn more.


Adapted from “The internet and children – what’s the problem,” a publication of Stop It Now! UK and Ireland.

If you have additional questions or concerns and would like to talk about it, please call Prevent Child Abuse Georgia’s toll-free, confidential HELPLINE at 1-800-CHILDREN (244-5373) Monday through Friday. We are here to help.

Stop It Now! Georgia is a member of the Stop It Now! national network. www.stopitnow.org. If you live outside of Georgia and need help, call 1-888-PREVENT