IWF launches new campaigns to combat abuse imagery

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has launched two campaigns to tackle the rise in self-generated abuse imagery of young and teenage girls and raise awareness of the risks posed by online predators.

Backed by the UK Home Office and Microsoft, the ‘Gurls Out Loud’ campaign aims to empower young and teenage girls to take control and report inappropriate requests.

The ‘Home Truths’ campaign will share advice on how parents can talk to their children about the dangers online.

Both campaigns will teach young and teenage girls, and their parents how to spot the warning signs of online predators at work and seek help.

A campaign film has also been produced which highlights the ways in which predators are now targeting young girls and tricking and coercing them into sharing self-generated sexual abuse imagery.

The IWF’s annual report reveals that 11 – 13-year-old girls are increasingly at risk of grooming and coercion at the hands of online predators.

In 2020, the IWF confirmed 68,000 cases of self-generated imagery, which accounts for nearly half (44%) of the imagery IWF took action on last year. New analysis shows that the victims in 80% of these cases were 11 – 13-yearold girls.

For more information about Gurls Out Loud, visit: https://gurlsoutloud.com/

For further details about the Home Truths, visit: https://talk.iwf.org.uk