Children filming themselves in graphic sexual videos for 'likes' online in growing trend

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A third of child sex abuse images are originally posted online by children themselves, it has emerged – with warnings of a growing trend where minors share graphic footage for “likes”. “We will not stop until we take down every single image, we will go after it again and again because we owe it to that victim.” 'Horrifying' number of men view child sex abuse images online, police say She warned that while the dark web was still being used by paedophiles, material reported to the IWF was on the open internet, adding: “Child sexual abuse is a horrific topic for people to talk about, but as a society we have got to take on board a heavy dose of reality and face up to what’s right in front of us.” The government’s upcoming Online Harms Bill will include proposals to tackle the “epidemic” of online child sex abuse images. “This will ensure companies take action now to tackle content that threatens our national security and the physical safety of children.” It comes after police and the National Crime Agency warned that it does not have the capacity to investigate or penalise everyone who views child sex abuse images. Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for child protection, told The Independent officers want to focus on suspects in direct contact with children but are being “overwhelmed” by lower-level image offences.