Non-judgemental support for young people
ReDirection Youth is a free, anonymous, self-guided online programme for young people who are concerned about their own behaviour around sexual content online.
Developed by Protect Children, ReDirection Youth provides an accessible way for young people to explore concerning online sexual behaviour and begin making positive changes before behaviour escalates or causes harm.
Why ReDirection Youth?
Young people are growing up in an environment where sexual content is widely accessible online. For some, exposure to sexual content can develop into patterns of behaviour that they find difficult to control or are concerned about.
Early intervention can provide an opportunity to address these concerns before they become more serious. However, young people may face significant barriers to seeking support, including embarrassment, fear of judgement, uncertainty about where to turn, or concerns about confidentiality.
ReDirection Youth is designed to help address these barriers by providing an anonymous, accessible and non-judgemental first step towards change.
How does it work?
ReDirection Youth consists of five self-guided modules that young people can complete at their own pace.
The programme is grounded in cognitive behavioural therapy principles and helps young people explore the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, habits, and behaviour.
Across the programme, young people are supported to:
-
Understand patterns in their online sexual behaviour
-
Identify situations, thoughts, and emotions that may influence behaviour
-
Recognise habits and triggers
-
Develop practical strategies for managing urges and changing behaviour
-
Build healthier online habits
-
Consider their next steps and potential sources of support
The programme is deliberately designed to be supportive and non-judgemental. Rather than focusing on shame or punishment, it focuses on understanding behaviour, building skills, and supporting positive change.
_gif.gif)
Who is it for?
ReDirection Youth is designed for young people over the age of 13 who have concerns about their own behaviour around sexual content online.
This may include young people who:
-
Feel they are losing control over how much sexual content they view
-
Are concerned about the types of sexual content they encounter online
-
Want to change patterns of online sexual behaviour
-
Are concerned that their behaviour could cause harm to themselves or others
The programme is intended as an early intervention and prevention resource. It is not designed to replace professional mental health or safeguarding support where this is required.
Removing barriers to early support
A central principle of ReDirection Youth is that young people should be able to access support before their behaviour reaches a crisis point.
Anonymous
No need to provide any personal details.
Free
Available without a financial barrier.
Non-judgemental
Focuses on supporting change, not shame.
Accessible
Online support that can be accessed independently.
Developed by professionals.
Tested with youth.
ReDirection Youth was developed by Protect Children, with support from an expert advisory group.
Before its launch, the programme was tested with young people in collaboration with StopSO, Specialist Treatment Organisation for Perpetrators and Survivors of Sexual Offending. StopSO had 1,300 referrals last year, 20% of which were under 18. Feedback from pilot testing was used to improve the programme's language, tone, usability, emotional impact, credibility, and potential to support behaviour change.
This approach ensured that the programme is both evidence-informed and appropriate for the young people it is intended to support.