Disturbing content
In short:
- Online spaces should be safe for everyone, but you may come across disturbing content that makes you uncomfortable.
- You can report content that you believe is harmful, dangerous, seriously offensive or illegal to eSafety at any time.
- Your actions could protect you and others from seeing the content again.
Warning: This page explicitly mentions illegal content, which includes sexual assault, murder and child abuse.
What is disturbing content?
Every now and then, you’ll come across things you don’t want to see online. Someone might send you an image or video or a link to information that is disturbing or even illegal.
Everyone has different levels for what they find disturbing or unacceptable, but eSafety can deal with illegal and restricted online content by directing an online platform or service to remove it. This includes these types of content:
- Illegal content: this may show, describe, promote, or encourage violent crimes. This can include child sexual abuse, terrorist acts, murder, attempted murder, rape or torture.
- Violent content: this can include images or stories of self-harm or actual harm.
- Age-inappropriate content: this can include sexual images or any material that is unsuitable for children and young people under 18.
If you see this type of content posted in a public place online, don’t share it – even if your intention is to help, or raise awareness.
Sharing this content may cause distress to others and you may be committing a crime.
What if someone is contacting me and I don’t want them to?
If someone you’re speaking to online has made you feel uncomfortable or sent you disturbing content, it’s important to stop contact and report the content. Even if you know the person in real life outside the online platform, it’s important to trust your gut and pick up on some of the warning signs. Find more advice in our Unsafe or unwanted contact page.
The Australian Centre To Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) can accept reports about inappropriate behaviour towards young people under 18, such as unwanted sexual contact, grooming, and coercion or blackmail for sexual purposes.
The police can also help you put safeguards in place. For emergency situations call Triple Zero (000). For non-emergency situations that still require a police response, contact your local police station (131 444).
What if someone sends me unwanted nudes?
If someone sends you a random nude, that’s commonly called ‘cyberflashing’. Receiving unwanted nudes can be creepy and upsetting because it makes the interaction between the sender and you sexual without your consent, which is sexual harassment.
Unwanted nudes can show a body of any gender or sexual expression, or part of a body (like a ‘dick pic’). People may send nudes because they think it’s seductive or a turn on, or they’re hoping to receive a nude in return, or they might even trick you into sending a nude back so they can blackmail you – this is called ‘sexual extortion’ or ‘sextortion’.
What if someone is blackmailing me or someone I know?
If someone tries to blackmail you by threatening to share an intimate image or video of you, that’s a type of image-based abuse called ‘sexual extortion’ (sometimes known as ‘sextortion’). It is important to remember you don’t have to deal with this alone. See our special advice page on How to deal with sexual extortion for more information.
What impact can disturbing content have on me?
When you see disturbing content online, your fight, flight, freeze or fawn response might kick in. This response is the body’s natural reaction to stressful, frightening, or dangerous events.
You may:
- react immediately, by reporting the content straight away, for example
- exit the app quickly and try to forget about what you saw
- feel like you're unable to do anything but watch the content, even if you don't want to
- try to justify seeing the disturbing content, or try to react as if it’s normal.
Each person responds differently and there’s no ‘correct’ reaction. All are valid, and you might cycle through one or two when it's happening.
What should I do if I see disturbing content?
Report to eSafety
If someone sends you a link to violent, inappropriate or illegal material, you can report it to eSafety straight away. Your report can be anonymous. Learn more about how to report illegal or restricted online content, and how to collect evidence of this type of content.
Report and block on the platform
The eSafety Guide has information about how to report content on different online platforms. Confidentially reporting content or a user to the platform before blocking them or their content can help keep the platform safe for others.
Check your privacy settings and add content filters
It’s a good idea to check your privacy settings to help stop people sending you content you don’t want to see. Find out more about privacy settings in specific social media services, games and apps in The eSafety Guide.
You might also want to use a filter or other tool to block certain content, and use safe search settings in your browser to protect yourself in future – although be aware that no filter is 100% effective.
Get support
A trusted adult can help if you’re struggling after seeing disturbing content. Talking to someone can make it easier to decide what to do and deal with the impact. You can also get help from confidential counselling and support services.
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My favourite part about the internet is being able to stay connected to people who live far away – and seeing cute cats. The internet should be a safe space for everyone and you should feel safe and respected there. When something goes wrong online, it's important to speak up and get help, but it might not be obvious what you can report or how to get help. So let's take a look at what the reporting process at eSafety involves. |
First of all when something happens it's good to take screenshots. If you don't feel comfortable gathering that evidence, you can ask someone you trust to gather it on your behalf. Having this evidence can help you, especially if any links or information gets deleted in the future. If you can, you will also need to report the issue or problematic content to the app or site it is posted on. You can report a range of online harms to eSafety including the cyberbullying of minors under 18 to adult cyber abuse and image based abuse, which is sharing or threatening to share private and intimate images without consent. You can even report illegal and restricted content, the really disturbing stuff you might have stumbled across. |
Once you start your report, depending on the form, it may ask you to write how you feeling so that eSafety can link you to the right support if you need it. Share what happened and where. Links and screenshots are handy to have and upload. And share who was involved. Can you identify the person who was targeting you or are they anonymous? |
It's also important to remember that eSafety will treat any report you make to them with respect and confidentiality. While sometimes they may have to talk to other people, the eSafety team will guard the information that you have provided and check in with you on what they can and can't share. Not all fields are mandatory. In some forms you can choose how much or how little you disclose, and you don't have to do it alone. You can ask someone to help you fill out the form or you can authorise someone else to do it for you. eSafety can also make sure that you get priority access to the right support and counselling services. At the end of the day, eSafety's goal is simple: to make sure that you feel empowered, supported and safe online. |
Ciri: How to report abuse online
Something has happened
‘Someone has sent me a link to a video of another person harming themselves. What should I do?’
Don’t share it further. Even if your intention is to help, or raise awareness. Sharing this content may cause distress to others and you may be committing a crime.
Report it to eSafety. You can report violent or illegal content to eSafety. This report can be anonymous. Learn more about what to expect when reporting and how to collect evidence of illegal or restricted online content.
Report on the platform. Reporting content or a user can help keep the platform safe for others. Check The eSafety Guide for information for reporting links and support on different online services.
Prevent further contact. It’s always OK to stop communicating with someone if you no longer feel comfortable. You can use in-app functions or the settings on the web browser to mute, unfollow or block the other person and change your privacy settings. Find out more about privacy settings in specific social media services, games and apps in The eSafety Guide.
Get support. Talk to a trusted adult if you’re feeling overwhelmed after seeing disturbing content or reach out to a confidential counselling or support service.
‘I stumbled upon a terrorist video while browsing online. What should I do?’
Don’t share it further. Even if your intention is to help, or raise awareness. Sharing this content may cause distress to others and you may be committing a crime.
Report to eSafety. You can report acts of terrorism or illegal content to eSafety. This report can be anonymous. Learn more about what to expect when reporting and how to collect evidence.
Report on the platform. Reporting content or a user can help keep the platform safe for others. Check The eSafety Guide for information about how to report content on different online services.
Get support. Seeing disturbing content can be stressful and overwhelming to deal with on your own. Talking to a trusted adult for support or contacting a confidential counselling or support service can help you with the situation.
Get support from confidential counselling and support services
Kids Helpline
5 to 25 year olds. All issues. Confidential phone counselling available all day, every day. Online chat available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Headspace
12 to 25 year olds. All issues. Phone counselling and online chat available 9am to 1am AEST, every day.
Last updated: 16/04/2024
