When a viral challenge is reported in the news or on social media, it’s often easier to consider the risks than establish the facts. Making the decision to issue guidance or warnings about challenges and hoaxes is often informed by the principle of ‘better safe than sorry’.

While safeguarding responses to online harms are vital, the wrong response can have the opposite effect and might increase the overall risk.

We’ve created a resource with advice specific to young people, parents, and schools on how to identify and respond to online challenges, trends, and hoaxes. This resource will help create a more appropriate response for each group to rely on.