Group chats are among the most popular ways that young people engage with their peers online.

Messaging apps on social media and in online games, allow users to send messages, images and videos to everyone in one place. While they are useful for helping friends, people with shared interests or members of a club to communicate and coordinate activities, they can also leave young people feeling excluded and bullied – as well as providing opportunities for inappropriate content to be shared and viewed.

In this guide produced by National Online Safety, there are tips on a number of potential risks such as bullying, inappropriate content and unknown members.  (download a pdf version at the foot of this page)