Officers encouraging parents and carers to check their child's devices
School Education Officers say large WhatsApp and iMessage groups are being created with names such as "every kid you know" or "add everyone under 13".
They say the content then being shared within these groups includes 'highly derogatory and offensive language, along with inappropriate images'.
Officers say children are encouraged to add as many young people as possible to the chat, regardless of age, school, location or whether they know them well.
Parents and carers are being encouraged to check their children’s phones for large group chats and to have open conversations about who created the group, who is in it, and what is being shared.
In a statement, the Isle of Man Constabulary says: "As these groups quickly grow, they can end up including people well outside the intended age range. In one recent case, a child did the right thing by showing the messages to their parent, who then raised the concern with the school who asked our School Education Officers for advice.
"We are encouraged to see that many young people are acting on the advice our Schools Officers share in their education sessions in schools, by telling a trusted adult when something online doesn’t feel right and feeling confident enough to speak up."
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