Com networks
UK police warn that online groups known as Com networks reach kids through gaming or music communities, move them to private channels, then pressure them into harm; this is an early warning from one relayed source, not yet a confirmed local pattern.
Should I worry?
The pattern to know is a familiar one: someone friendly shows up in a gaming or music community, builds trust, then suggests moving the chat to a private channel. Once there, the pressure can turn to secrecy, threats and demands for the child to hurt themselves or others. Warning signs include a new online friend who is intensely attentive, a push to keep chats secret, a child who seems anxious after being online, or new accounts and apps you didn't know about. Stay calm and keep the door open. If something already feels wrong, save the messages, don't confront the other person, and report it to the platform and the police.
How to join in
Gaming and music communities are where many kids find friends who share their interests, and that is mostly a good thing. This card is not about banning those spaces. A good way in is to ask who your kid talks to in their favourite communities, what they like about them, and how they would handle someone asking to move the chat somewhere private. Showing curiosity about their online friends makes it easier for them to come to you if something feels off.
Try saying
“I like hearing about the people you play and listen to music with online. If anyone ever asks you to move to a private chat or keep something secret from me, I won't be mad. I'd just want to know, and we'd sort it out together.”
If you’re worried
If your child is in immediate danger, call 911. To report online sexual exploitation or threats, contact Cybertip.ca. If intimate images have been shared, NeedHelpNow.ca can help get them removed. Kids Help Phone is available to your child at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting 686868. If there is any mention of self-harm or suicide, call or text 988.
Sources
From Mistlift, mistlift.app. Plain talk about what kids are into online.