What are online harm groups?
What are online harm groups?
Online harm groups (you may have heard these called ‘Com Groups’, short for community) are groups of people who use online spaces to manipulate, control, threaten or exploit others.
They often operate through messaging apps, gaming communities, channels or servers.
Group members aim to gain status and reputation by posting evidence to the rest of the group of how they can manipulate and cause harm to others; competing to see who can cause the most harm or humiliation. Their activity is often illegal and may include coercing young people to do things such as:
- injuring themselves or others
- sharing nude or sexual images of themselves
- causing injury to siblings or pets
- doing sexual things
- recording or livestreaming these things
Both those targeted and those committing offences are mostly under 18.