About Online Grooming
Grooming is the process of befriending and establishing an emotional connect in slow, methodical and intentional process of manipulating a person to a point where they can be sexually victimized by the online predator.
Online grooming is when an adult builds a relationship with a child online to exploit or harm them. Groomers often use fake profiles, pretending to be the same age and sharing similar interests to gain a child's trust. They may offer attention, friendship, or in-game help, and then encourage the child to move to private chats or share personal information—sometimes even asking for family card details.
Children who are curious or adventurous may unknowingly put themselves at risk by interacting with strangers online. Predators often visit platforms popular with children and look for those who seem vulnerable—especially kids who overshare personal details or lack proper privacy settings. Because grooming can be subtle, children may not realize they’re being targeted, which makes awareness, privacy, and caution essential when interacting online.