Meta
© 2025 Meta
South Africa

Meta
FacebookThreadsInstagramXYouTubeLinkedIn
Other sites
Transparency CentreMeta Safety CentreMeta Privacy CentreAbout MetaMeta Help Centre

Instagram
Instagram supervisionInstagram parents guideInstagram Help CentreInstagram featuresInstagram anti-bullying

Facebook and Messenger
Facebook supervisionFacebook Help CentreMessenger Help CentreMessenger featuresFacebook Privacy CentreGenerative AI

Resources
Resources HubMeta HC: Safety Advisory CouncilCo-design programme

Site Terms and Policies
Community StandardsPrivacy PolicyTermsCookie PolicySitemap

Other sites
Transparency Centre
Meta Safety Centre
Meta Privacy Centre
About Meta
Meta Help Centre
Instagram
Instagram supervision
Instagram parents guide
Instagram Help Centre
Instagram features
Instagram anti-bullying
Resources
Resources Hub
Meta HC: Safety Advisory Council
Co-design programme
Facebook and Messenger
Facebook supervision
Facebook Help Centre
Messenger Help Centre
Messenger features
Facebook Privacy Centre
Generative AI
Site Terms and Policies
Community Standards
Privacy Policy
Terms
Cookie Policy
Sitemap
Other sites
Transparency Centre
Meta Safety Centre
Meta Privacy Centre
About Meta
Meta Help Centre
Instagram
Instagram supervision
Instagram parents guide
Instagram Help Centre
Instagram features
Instagram anti-bullying
Resources
Resources Hub
Meta HC: Safety Advisory Council
Co-design programme
Facebook and Messenger
Facebook supervision
Facebook Help Centre
Messenger Help Centre
Messenger features
Facebook Privacy Centre
Generative AI
Site Terms and Policies
Community Standards
Privacy Policy
Terms
Cookie Policy
Sitemap
Other sites
Transparency Centre
Meta Safety Centre
Meta Privacy Centre
About Meta
Meta Help Centre
Instagram
Instagram supervision
Instagram parents guide
Instagram Help Centre
Instagram features
Instagram anti-bullying
Facebook and Messenger
Facebook supervision
Facebook Help Centre
Messenger Help Centre
Messenger features
Facebook Privacy Centre
Generative AI
Resources
Resources Hub
Meta HC: Safety Advisory Council
Co-design programme
Site Terms and Policies
Community Standards
Privacy Policy
Terms
Cookie Policy
Sitemap
Skip to main content
Meta
Facebook and Messenger
Instagram
Resources

Dealing with upsetting content online

By ParentZone

12 March 2024

Facebook icon
Social media platform X icon
Clipboard icon
Teen wearing a beanie and rucksack, looking at a phone in front of a digital departure board.
We will all inevitably come across things online that upset, confuse or frighten us, and that includes our teens.Rather than simply focusing on preventing this from happening, try to think about how you would respond when this happens, not if. Reflecting on how you feel about things in advance – from politics to pornography – helps to prepare you to support your teen with whatever they come across.There are ways to approach this: from the initial response, to spotting warning signs or dealing with the fallout.

Rather than simply focusing on preventing this from happening, try to think about how you would respond when this happens, not if. Reflecting on how you feel about things in advance – from politics to pornography – helps to prepare you to support your teen with whatever they come across.

There are ways to approach this: from the initial response, to spotting warning signs or dealing with the fallout.

What did your teen see?



Context is key. Content can be upsetting for an enormous number of reasons. It could be extreme imagery or video footage, or behaviour that is personally offensive.It might depend on the relationship between people involved, how it was seen or the motivation behind it. Did your teen seek it out or find it by accident? If someone shared it with them, did they mean to upset or offend?What feels distressing to one person may not feel that way to another – so be careful not to dismiss your teen's feelings. Shutting down a conversation may lead them to seek answers from more unreliable sources, so listen to and validate how they feel. No matter if it seems trivial to you: if it has upset them, then it's upsetting.

It might depend on the relationship between people involved, how it was seen, or the motivation behind it. Did your teen seek it out or find it by accident? If someone shared it with them, did they mean to upset or offend?

What feels distressing to one person may not feel that way to another – so be careful not to dismiss your teen’s feelings. Shutting down a conversation may lead them to seek answers from more unreliable sources, so listen to and validate how they feel. No matter if it seems trivial to you: if it has upset them, then it’s upsetting.
Close-up of a person with bright lipstick, partially covering their face with their arm.

Spotting the signs



You may have received a notification that they have reported content or blocked someone – which means that they chose to report it to you too. But you can't assume that your teen will come to you when they're upset by something.There can be many reasons why they may not initially discuss it with you. They may be confused by what they've seen or worry that it will land them (or someone else) in trouble. They may know that they've crossed a boundary and worry about being banned from going somewhere online or connecting with a person or group.They may turn to a friend in the first instance – though that person might not have the answers either.Here are some things to look out for:

Create time and space for them to raise an issue. Simple, low-pressure moments to talk, such as on a car journey or a walk, could encourage them to open up.

They may turn to a friend in the first instance – though that person might not have the answers either.

Here are some things to look out for:

  • your teen seeming withdrawn,
  • being less sociable,
  • or becoming more secretive about who they speak to and what they do online.


Create time and space for them to raise an issue. Simple, low-pressure moments to talk, like on a car journey or a walk, could encourage them to open up.

How to react



Whatever they've seen – and however they ended up seeing it – stay calm. Give them time and space to explain what has happened. It's never easy, but try to respond without judgement and reassure them that you'll do your best to deal with the situation together.Before asking to view the content yourself, ask yourself whether you need to – for your own benefit, as well as your teen's.Reliving the experience could be distressing for them, and you may underestimate its impact on your own well-being.

Before asking to view the content yourself, ask yourself whether you need to – for your own benefit, as well as your teen’s.

Reliving the experience could be distressing for them, and you may underestimate its impact on your own wellbeing.
Two people laughing and leaning on each other at a dinner table.

Moving forwards positively



Decide how to move forwards together. If they have seen something really unpleasant, they will need time to process that.They may need some space or protection from a particular account or contact.Remind them that they have the power to unfollow, block or report other accounts, and encourage them to do so. The account in question won't be notified. They could also report the content if they do not want to impact the account itself. Read more advice on supporting your teen when online relationships break down – and find out more about Instagram's parental supervision tools.Listen to their needs and make sure that they feel supported while resetting any boundaries that may have been crossed.

They may need some space or protection from a particular account or contact.

Remind them that they have the power to unfollow, block or report other accounts, and encourage them to do so. The account in question won’t be notified. They could also report the content if they do not want to impact the account itself. Read more advice on supporting your teen when online relationships break down – and find out more about Instagram’s parental supervision tools.

Listen to their needs and make sure they feel supported while resetting any boundaries that may have been crossed.

Help and support



More formal action might be required if the content is extreme or something criminal has occurred.This can feel daunting – but should be seen as a positive action. Encourage your teen by telling them that they could be protecting others from being exposed to similar material in the future.Depending on the content or context, you may need support too – and there are sites and organisations that can help.

Find more support services on the Parent Zone website.

Depending on the content or context, you may need support too – and there are sites and organisations that can help.

  • NAMI has advice and information for teens to help them get the mental health support that they need.
  • The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has a reporting form if you suspect that a child been exploited sexually online or you suspect that they have been a victim of grooming.


Find more support services on the Parent Zone website.

FEATURES AND TOOLS

Instagram logo
Supervision tools on Instagram
Instagram logo
Control sensitive content
Instagram logo
Turn on message and comments controls
Instagram logo
Restrict someone

RELATED RESOURCES

Logo of The Jed Foundation, featuring the word "JED" in bold white letters inside a blue shield shape.
Building a positive community and experience on Instagram
Read more
Person sitting on a bed in a dark room, smiling while holding a tablet, surrounded by colourful lights.
Digital engagement skills
Read more
Family sitting on a sofa, smiling and watching something together.
Developing empathy
Read more
Two people in hijabs smiling and holding phones outdoors.
Parenting tips for social media
Read more
Person leaning out of a car window at sunset, looking into the distance.
Handling online bullying
Read more