The Dark Web and Young People: Understanding the Real Risks in 2025
Access to the dark web has never been easier — and more dangerous. This guide explains what the dark web actually is, why young people are accessing it, what they encounter there, and what schools and parents must do when they discover a child has been involved.
What the Dark Web Is — and Isn't
The "dark web" refers to encrypted networks — primarily the Tor network — that are not indexed by standard search engines and require specific software to access. It is not illegal to access the dark web itself. However, the content most frequently encountered there — drug markets, CSAM, weapons listings, and fraud services — is criminal.
NCA analysis suggests that approximately 15% of Tor users in the UK are under 18, and that the primary initial motivation for young people accessing the dark web is curiosity rather than intent to engage in criminal activity.[1] This is a safeguarding concern, not merely a criminal justice one.
What Young People Encounter on the Dark Web
Drug Markets
Alphabay, Incognito and other dark web marketplaces allow the purchase of controlled substances with cryptocurrency. Young people who discover these markets are at immediate risk of purchasing adulterated or counterfeit drugs — including fentanyl-contaminated supplies that have caused multiple UK fatalities.
Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)
The dark web remains a primary distribution channel for CSAM. The Internet Watch Foundation identified over 292,000 reports of CSAM URLs in 2024. A child who encounters this content is a victim of harm in their own right, regardless of how they accessed it.
Extremist Recruitment and Content
Extremist groups — including far-right and jihadist networks — use dark web forums to share propaganda, coordinate activity, and recruit. Young people who find these communities are at risk of radicalisation, and this should trigger a Prevent/Channel referral.
Hacking Tools and Fraud Services
Credential theft tools, DDoS services, and fraud tutorials are widely available. Young people who access these — even out of curiosity — may unwittingly commit Computer Misuse Act offences with serious criminal consequences.
Warning Signs a Young Person Is Accessing the Dark Web
- Tor Browser (a legitimate but easily identified piece of software) is installed on their device
- Unexplained cryptocurrency purchases or gift card activity
- Packages arriving from unknown senders — particularly small, discreet packages
- References to "onion sites", hidden services, or specific dark web terminology
- Withdrawal, anxiety, or distress with no identifiable cause — particularly after device use
What Schools and Parents Must Do
- Do not delete anything: If a device is found with Tor or dark web content, preserve it. Deleting evidence could compromise a police investigation and remove important context for a safeguarding assessment.
- Refer to MASH: Dark web access — particularly involving drug procurement or CSAM exposure — meets the Section 17 threshold. If there is evidence of exploitation or CSAM, this is a Section 47 referral.
- Report CSAM to IWF immediately: iwf.org.uk has a confidential reporting system available to schools and parents. You are not required to view the material to report it.
- Do not interview the child: Questioning about specific content should be left to police and trained practitioners. Schools should record what the child said spontaneously and refer.
Citations
[1] National Crime Agency (2023). National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2023. NCA.
[2] Internet Watch Foundation (2024). IWF Annual Report 2024. iwf.org.uk.
[3] Europol (2024). Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment 2024. Europol.
[4] Department for Education (2024). Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024. GOV.UK.