In the podcast "Digital Safety Against Online Exploitation", the young people at New City College define online exploitation as a form of online abuse where you are coerced into doing something that you may not want to do. Online exploitation often involves someone taking advantage of another person and forcing them to engage in sexual or criminal acts online. There will always be a power imbalance within this relationship with one person benefiting from this relationship. 

Despite the term "forcing" being connected with physical violence, this is not always the case. Emotional blackmail, threatening to reveal secrets or withholding friendship and making someone feel guilty for not doing as asked, are all examples of what force can look like. Simply put, if they feel like they have no option but to obey the second party, then they are not consenting to these actions.    

In the below podcast, the young people explain the warning signs of online exploitation and the impact that online exploitation can have on a person. 

This project was produced as a collaboration between New City College Attlee A Level Academy and Headliners (UK).

Thank you to the Tower Hamlets Prevent Team for making these sessions possible.