Nudity Blockers: Turn Them On Today

Sextortion usually starts with a picture. A child is sent a nude image, or is pressured into sending one, and then the threats begin. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) says UK sextortion reports for the first half of this year have already passed the total for all of 2025, and it says there is ‘no time to lose’ in getting protections onto children’s phones. The good news is that the most useful protection is already built into iPhones and Android phones. You can switch it on in about ten minutes.

Why device settings matter now

Nudity blockers detect nudity on the phone itself and blur the image before your child sees it. They also warn a child before they open or send a nude image. They don’t stop every risk, but they add a pause at exactly the moment most children need one. That pause gives a child time to think, and time to come to you.

This is prevention. If your child has already been threatened, use our sextortion first-hour guide and contact Childline straight away.

Turn on Communication Safety on iPhone

These steps work on iPhones and iPads running recent versions of iOS. Menu names shift a little between versions, so look for the closest match. Your child’s Apple ID needs to be in your Family Sharing group for the Screen Time controls to apply.

1. Open Settings on your child’s device.
2. Tap Screen Time. If it’s off, tap Turn On Screen Time, and choose the option for a child’s device when asked.
3. Tap Communication Safety. Switch on Check for Sensitive Content. This covers Messages, AirDrop, shared photo albums and FaceTime.