Breaking news in South Africa today is that a court order just took down multiple WhatsApp channels exposing kids.

Sex tapes. Nudes. Explicit rumours about HIV, STDs, and “body counts.” All shared anonymously. All involving minors.

It’s a win for digital justice but also a wake-up call for parents and teachers alike.

Don’t wait to check your child’s WhatsApp. And don’t wait to have the conversation about talking to strangers online.

This isn’t just about creepy DMs. It’s about what can happen when someone earns your child’s trust… and then turns it into currency. Not every online stranger is a “predator.” Some are classmates. Some are ex-friends. Some are influencers pretending to be 14. Your child needs to know how to spot the difference and what to do when something feels off.

You’ve got more power than you think.

This isn’t about spying. It’s about staying connected, having hard conversations, and showing your child that they don’t have to navigate this alone.

Read on to find out exactly what happened online this week, what to do about it as parents and as teachers, and always how to go about having those often uncomfortable but ever so necessary conversations with your children and teenagers.

What happened online this week?

Yesterday, a ground-breaking urgent court order was granted against Meta, with thanks (and huge Kudos) to our friends at the Digital Law Company.

Why urgent court? Because several anonymous WhatsApp channels were being used to share explicit “leaks” including sex tapes and nudes of minors, many of which were solicited via Instagram and spread via WhatsApp.

Some of the posts claimed kids had STDs, HIV, or racked up so-called “body counts.” The damage? Devastating. Children were named and shamed

Parents reported it in multiple schools. Two attempted suicides have been linked to the exposure.

The court has now ordered Meta to:

• Delete the WhatsApp channels and Instagram accounts
• Disclose the identity of the person behind the leaks

A landmark moment for digital justice. But also a brutal reminder of the damage these platforms can cause without accountability. This is the world our kids are online in whether we like it or not.

So what should parents do NOW?

Check your child’s WhatsApp to see if they are following any inappropriate channels (Open WhatsApp, click ‘Updates’ icon on the bottom left, have a look at ‘Channels’)

Look at what WhatsApp groups they’re in. See what’s being shared.  

If you’re met with resistance that’s a red flag in itself.

So what should parents / teachers SAY?

Talk about what happened in court this week:

For younger kids:

• “I heard some important news this week about something really horrible that happened on some Whatsapp channels and Instagram. There was a big court case about some really harmful things that were happening on WhatsApp and Instagram. Some anonymous people on WhatsApp and Instagram were sharing private pictures and videos of kids without their clothes on and without their permission. They managed to get the kids to send them these pictures, often promising them data or money or just by pretending to be their friend. It caused a lot of hurt, and you can imagine how sad it made some of the kids when their pictures were put on WhatsApp groups for other people to see. The good news is that the court has now ordered the companies that own WhatsApp and Instagram to shut down these Whatsapp channels and delete the bad pictures. This is a big step to make the internet safer for everyone but it’s a good time for us to talk about how to stay super safe when you’re online.”

For older kids and teens:

• “I saw some pretty heavy news this week about what’s happening online, specifically with platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram. There was an urgent court order against Meta because anonymous accounts were being used to share really harmful explicit content, including ‘sex tapes’ and nudes of minors, often sourced from Instagram.This wasn’t just about sharing; some accounts were actively trying to get kids to send these kinds of images. The impact has been devastating – kids being publicly shamed, false rumours were spread about kids having STDs or HIV, and tragically, even suicide attempts were linked to this exposure. The court has now ordered Meta to take down these WhatsApp channels and identify the creators, which is a huge step in the law but I really want to chat about how this impacts you in your everyday life”

Talk about  inappropriate content finding its way onto WhatsApp groups/ channels:

For younger kids ages 10-12:

• “I heard some news this week about some creepy people hanging out on Whatsapp and Instagram. They were asking kids for pictures of themselves without their clothes on and they were sharing these pics on WhatsApp channels for everyone to see.  If anything you see online, on a game, app, or message – ever makes you feel weird, uncomfortable, or worried, you can always tell me. I promise I’ll listen first and we’ll figure it out together. I won’t get mad or take away your phone.”
• “Even in private groups, like on WhatsApp, some people online might pretend to be someone else. They might ask for private pictures or information you’d rather not share. Have you ever seen anything like that?”
• “It’s easy to share too much online, even in private chats. Let’s make sure we agree on what pictures or personal details (like your address or phone number) should always stay private and never be shared online, no matter who asks.”
• “If anyone online is ever mean, threatening, or tries to make you do something you don’t want to do, please promise me you’ll tell me immediately. There’s nothing you could say that would upset me – my job is to keep you safe, and we’ll solve it together.”
• “There are good secrets and bad secrets. If a friend asks you to keep a secret because they’re in trouble from something online, that’s a bad secret. You can always tell me; my only goal is your safety, and we’ll figure things out together.”

Conversation starters for your teenager (13-16)

• “Given what’s been in the news, it highlights how quickly things can escalate online. How do you feel about the kind of content that gets shared, even in what seem like private group chats? What’s your take on protecting your own privacy when so many people are online?”
• “We’re seeing cases where anonymous accounts are exposing people and spreading false rumours. What’s your strategy for handling online interactions or content that feels sketchy, manipulative, or just plain wrong? Do you ever come across things that make you question the safety of platforms?”
• “It’s a reality that images shared online, even once, can be misused forever. Let’s talk practically about the line between what’s okay to share with friends and what absolutely needs to stay private. How do you decide what’s appropriate to send or post, considering the risks involved?”
• “If you or a friend ever ended up in a situation where private content was shared without permission, or someone was pressuring you online, do you feel you could tell me or are you worried I would react badly? I promise you I am here to protect you first and we can deal with consequences second. You have my word on that”
• ⁠“Beyond just protecting yourself, what responsibility do you think we have if we see someone else being targeted or exploited online? It’s a tough situation, but being an upstander rather than a bystander can make a huge difference to someone’s life. Imagine it is your bestie. What are your thoughts on supporting friends who might be in trouble online – do you think you would tell them?”

Stay connected,

Sarah & Pam 
Co-founders, Klikd