Parents are being urged to keep an eye out for signs of online grooming in their children as cases of abuse rise.
Figures have shown an increase in the number of sex predators targeting younger children - with a sharp disturbing rise in content showing the abuse of youngsters aged between seven and 10.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) says data shows 2021 to be the worst year on record for child sexual abuse online.
The safety group took action against 252,000 URLs which had horrific images or videos of children being sexually assaulted and suffering sexual abuse.
There were 361,000 reports of suspected criminal material last year - more than it tackled within its entire first 15 years of existence.
The Government has now launched a campaign, Stop Abuse Together, to help parents spot the signs of sexual abuse and keep children safe, reports The Chronicle.
Experts say most children who are being sexually abused don't tell anyone about it at the time - making it vital that parents and carers can spot the signs.
A spokesperson said: "There aren't always signs that a child is being sexually abused, but below you can learn about some of the most common things to look out for.
"They don't always mean that a child is being sexually abused - but it's best to reach out for support if you have concerns."
The signs parents should look out for
Behaviour - Has their behaviour changed?
Sexual - Are they using sexual language or exhibiting sexual behaviour you wouldn't expect them to know?
Bed wetting and nightmares - Are they having nightmares or wetting the bed? Are they overly tired, restless or on their phone late at night?
Secretive - Have they become secretive about what they are doing on the internet or when out and about?
Eating habits - Have they changed their eating habits? Do they seem to have developed eating issues? Are they refusing to eat or overeating?
Self harm - Are they hurting themselves physically?
Mood - Has their mood changed?
Depressed, distant or distracted - Are they unusually distracted, distant or disassociated?
Regressing to younger behaviour - Are they exhibiting behaviour that you would expect of a younger child, such as sucking their thumb?
Excessively worried about meeting obligations - Are they unusually concerned or become upset if they do not respond to a message or phone call, or visit someone at a specific time?
Angry or aggressive - Are they becoming aggressive, angry or expressing other violent behaviours?
Low self-worth - Are they talking badly about themselves, saying things like "I'm stupid" or "I'm an idiot" when they make small errors?
Lack of interest/motivation - Have they suddenly lost interest in schoolwork, leisure activities or friends?
If you are worried about a child - even if you're unsure - you can speak to a trained professional at the NSPCC by calling the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000, or by visiting their website.
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