Talking About Racism and Hate Speech Online
A conversation guide for parents helping children recognise, respond to, and report racism and hate speech encountered or witnessed online.
Children encounter racism online earlier than many parents expect — through social media comments, gaming chat, memes, and group messages. Whether your child is the target, a bystander, or is being exposed to normalised racist content, they need tools to recognise what they are seeing, understand why it is harmful, and know how to respond. This script works for families of all backgrounds.
When to have this conversation
From age 8+, both proactively and whenever your child mentions an incident — online or in person.
Before you start
- • Think about your own family's experiences and values before the conversation so you can speak authentically.
- • Be prepared to listen as much as you speak — your child may have already experienced something they have not mentioned.
- • Have the Stop Hate UK number ready: 0800 138 1625.
Conversation by age group
"I want to talk to you about something you might come across online — or maybe you already have. It is about people being unkind because of where someone comes from or what they look like."
parent
"Sometimes online, people say horrible things about others because of their skin colour, religion, or where their family comes from. That is called racism, and it is always wrong."
child
"I have seen people saying stuff like that on games."
parent
"I am glad you told me. When you see that, it is important to know it is not okay — even if lots of people seem to be laughing along. You can report it using the report button in the game. You do not have to respond to it."
Validate that they have encountered this, and give them an immediate, simple action.
parent
"If anyone ever says something racist to you directly — online or anywhere else — please tell me. You have done nothing wrong and it is never your fault. I will always take it seriously."
Tips for this age
- • Younger children benefit from a simple, clear message: racism is wrong, it is not your fault, and you can report it.
- • Acknowledge any incidents they have already experienced before moving on to what to do — being heard matters.
"I want to check in about something that comes up a lot online these days — racist comments and hate speech. Have you come across any of that?"
parent
"Racism online ranges from obvious slurs to more subtle things — memes, 'jokes', or casual comments that put people down because of their race or religion. All of it is harmful, even when it is dressed up as humour."
child
"Some of my friends think some of those memes are funny though."
parent
"That is really common at your age — people share things without thinking about the impact. It is worth asking yourself: would the person this meme is about find it funny? If not, that tells you something. You do not have to lecture your friends, but you also do not have to share or laugh along."
Avoid criticising friends directly — give your child language to make their own judgements.
parent
"If you experience racist comments directly, report them to the platform and tell me. You can also report to True Vision at report-it.org.uk. And if a friend is targeted, checking in with them and reporting the content is the right thing to do."
Tips for this age
- • At this age, peer influence is strong. Focus on building independent moral reasoning rather than simply telling them what to think.
- • If your child is from an ethnic minority background, acknowledge that their experience may be personal — be ready to listen.
Follow-up actions
- → Report any racist content your child has experienced to the platform and, if severe, to True Vision at report-it.org.uk.
- → Check in regularly about the online spaces your child uses — racism is often normalised gradually and children may not flag it unless asked.
Related safety topics
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.