The Prostasia Foundation is dedicated to eliminating child sexual abuse material (CSAM, sometimes called child pornography in legal settings) from the internet, but we can’t do it without your help. If you encounter abusive content, follow these steps to report it and ensure its timely removal. We’ll also walk you through reporting the content to law enforcement so they can take action to protect the children it depicts. If you need help to stop viewing illegal content, you can find it here.
How to report CSAM
Follow the steps below to report images, videos, and other forms of content that you believe are CSAM. Be sure to complete all the steps in order to maximize the effectiveness of your report.
1. Beware of false reports
According to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a UK-based organization that receives reports of CSAM, nearly 50% of reports are not actionable. False reports waste time and resources that could be used to protect children. They also make it more difficult for IWF and similar organizations to identify and remove CSAM.
Rule of thumb for reporting
Report content that depicts a real child being abused or contains evidence of a real child being abused. Do not share suspected CSAM with others. When in doubt, report it.
In most cases, drawings, 3D renders, and other forms of fictional content do not necessitate a report. Although they are included in some countries’ child pornography laws, reports of these sexual outlets do little to keep children safe and may even impede child protection efforts. Of course, you should still file a report if you believe a real child was abused in the creation of fictional content.
2. Alert the source website
When it comes to the removal of CSAM, speed is essential. The longer abusive content remains online, the greater the likelihood that someone will download it or repost it elsewhere. In most cases, reporting CSAM to the website where you found it is the fastest way to get it removed. However, on sites with insufficient moderation practices or larger illegal content problems, you may want to complete step 3 first.
How to report CSAM to popular websites
Click the name of a platform to expand the instructions for that platform.
Facebook (account required)
- Navigate to the photo or video
- Click the 3 dots on or near the photo or video
- Click “Find support or report photo” or “Report video”
- Follow the prompts to select a reason
- Nudity > Involves a Child
- Submit the report
Pinterest (account required)
- Navigate to the Pin
- Click the 3 dots on or near the Pin
- Click “Report Pin”
- Select “Nudity or pornography”
- Submit the report (you may need to click “Next” first)
TikTok
- Navigate to the video
- Click “Report” (you may need to click “Share” or the 3 dots on or near the video first)
- Follow the prompts to select a reason
- Minor safety > Abuse or crimes against minors
- Submit the report
With an account
- Navigate to the Tweet
- Click the 3 dots near the Tweet
- Click “Report Tweet”
- Select “Everyone on Twitter” and click “Next”
- Follow the prompts to select a reason
- Shown sensitive or disturbing content > Child sexual exploitation
- Click “Yes, continue” and submit the report
Without an account
- Fill out this form
- Submit the report
With an account
- Navigate to the photo or video
- Click the 3 dots on or near the photo or video
- Click “Report”
- Follow the prompts to select a reason
- Nudity or sexual activity > Involves a child
- Submit the report
Without an account
- Fill out this form
- When prompted to select a reason, pick “Nudity or pornography”
- In the “Additional information” field, explain that the content involves a child
- Submit the report
With an account
- Navigate to the post or comment
- Click “Report” (you may need to click the 3 dots near the post or comment first)
- Select “Sexualization of minors”
- Submit the report
Without an account
- Fill out this form
- In the “Policy Violation” dropdown, select “Sexual/Suggestive Content of Minors”
- Be sure to include a link to the post or comment in the “Details of inquiry” field
- Submit the report
Tumblr
With an account
- Navigate to the post
- Click the 3 dots near the post
- Click “Report”
- Follow the prompts to select a reason
- Report something else > Harm to minors > Is the content you are reporting suspected child sexual abuse material?
- Submit the report
Without an account
- Visit this page
- Follow the prompts to select a reason
- Report something else > Harm to minors > Is the content you are reporting suspected child sexual abuse material?
- Fill out the form that appears
- Submit the report
YouTube (account required)
- Navigate to the video
- Click the 3 dots or gear icon on or near the video (you may have to tap on the video to reveal this option)
- Click “Report”
- Select “Child abuse”
- Submit the report (you may have to click “Next” first)
If the website where you found the content is not listed above, look for an option to report the post or message containing CSAM. If that’s not an option, look for a way to contact the platform directly, such as an email address or contact form, and ask if there is a way for you to report illegal content to them. Do not share CSAM with others, even to ask for help reporting it. This allows it to spread further and is illegal.
3. Notify law enforcement
Informing the police when you find abusive content online can help them track down and remove other instances of that content. In some cases, it may even give them enough information to rescue a child from an abusive situation. Some platforms automatically forward confirmed reports of CSAM to law enforcement, but many do not. Filing your own report ensures the authorities will receive it.
A growing number of countries have official hotlines where their citizens can report CSAM. These reports are reviewed to confirm that the content exists and violates national laws, then made available to appropriate law enforcement bodies. Some hotlines even have programs where they work with platforms to ensure content is removed in a timely manner while complying with relevant laws.
4. Take care of yourself
Exposure to CSAM can be traumatic. People who have encountered it may experience trouble concentrating, sudden mood swings, and other mental health issues in the weeks and months that follow. Processing CSAM exposure is a long and difficult process, but there is support available to people going through it. The US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children published a brochure with tips and resources to help you move forward. You can download it using the button below.
Help for viewers
Many people who intentionally view abusive content want to stop but need help to do so. If this sounds like you, check out the support resources below, many of which are at least partially geared toward individuals who struggle with illegal content.
Professional support
Prevent It is a free and experimental module-based treatment program for individuals who are struggling to stop viewing illegal content. It takes place entirely online and uses Tor to protect participants’ privacy.
Therapy
The STOP-CSAM study is another free experimental program for individuals who need help to stop viewing illegal content. It provides anonymous online access to therapists who are trained to support CSAM viewers.
The Prostasia Foundation also has a list of therapy resources for minor-attracted people (MAPs). Some people who view illegal content but want to stop find these beneficial, regardless of whether they’re attracted to minors.
Keep in mind that even MAP-friendly therapists may report CSAM viewers under mandatory reporting laws, even if those laws do not require it. You can anonymously email potential therapists to gain a better sense of what they would report before scheduling an appointment.
If you are seeking therapy but need help affording it, you can apply for financial support.
Additional Resources
StopItNow! is a child sexual abuse prevention organization that provides various resources to people concerned about their behavior. These include a helpline and an online help center.
EasyPeasy is a strategy for overcoming porn addiction that some CSAM viewers have successfully used to stop consuming illegal content. Its inclusion here was recommended by a former viewer.
MAP Resources’ Guide to Reporting CSAM is a set of comprehensive instructions for reporting illegal content. It also includes a regularly updated list of resources for individuals struggling to stop viewing CSAM.
Suggest a resource
Do not use this form to report illegal content. Instead, follow the instructions at the top of this page.