Online harm groups

Online harm groups (you may have heard these called ‘Com Groups’, short for community) are groups of people who use online spaces to manipulate, control, threaten or exploit others.

They often operate through messaging apps, gaming communities, channels or servers.

Group members aim to gain status and reputation by posting evidence to the rest of the group of how they can manipulate and cause harm to others; competing to see who can cause the most harm or humiliation. Their activity is often illegal and may include coercing young people to do things such as:

• injuring themselves or others
• sharing nude or sexual images of themselves
• causing injury to siblings or pets
• doing sexual things
• recording or livestreaming these things

Both those targeted and those committing offences are mostly under 18.

It can be difficult to spot when building friendships or relationships online turns into something harmful. These chats may be no different at first, seeming fun, friendly and supportive.

Online harm groups often start by building trust, making the person feel safe before starting to pressure and then force them to harm themselves or others.

It is never a young person’s fault if a friendship or relationship they have built online turns out to be someone seeking to harm them.

At first this may look like:

Making contact

• Starting a chat
• Talking about shared interests, games or experiences
• Asking you to join a channel or server

Building trust

• Chatting often
• Giving compliments, emotional support, or special attention

This may then turn in to:

Getting information or material

• Asking for personal details
• Encouraging nude or sexual image sharing
• Pressuring you to harm yourself or others and recording it
• Learning about your worries, secrets, friendships, or family life
• Asking you to keep chats, images or videos you’ve shared secret from others

Blackmail and threats 

• Using gathered information, images or recordings as pressure
• Demanding that you send more images or videos of sexual or harmful acts
• Asking you to do increasingly harmful things to yourself or others
• Making you feel afraid of what might happen if you don’t do what you’re asked

Online harm groups use pressure to blackmail, threaten and hurt. Pressure may look like:

• Being rushed into making a decision
• Being dared to prove yourself
• Being made to feel guilty for saying no or leaving
• Being threatened or blackmailed
• Being told to keep secrets
• Being pushed to do things that make you uncomfortable
• Being repeatedly contacted after you've tried to stop the conversation

Feeling pressured can be a warning sign that something is wrong. You never have to stay in a chat, group or friendship where someone is pressuring you.

It may feel difficult to leave a group or chat, especially if you feel worried others won’t understand or will judge you.

Remember, trust how you feel. Pressure → leave.

If you have been harmed or are worried about the way someone has been communicating with you online:

• Leave the chat or group
• Avoid deleting anything that could be used as evidence
• If you feel you can, tell an adult you trust what has happened
• Report what has happened to the police by calling 101 or 999 if there is a risk of immediate harm

Under 18s can also contact the NCA’s CEOP Safety Centre