Around 65 per cent of the 3,716 sessions during 2015/16 involved young people aged 12 to 15, while 28 per cent involved 16 to 18-year-olds.
Almost two-thirds of the sessions involved girls and 459 related specifically to grooming – an increase of 21 per cent.
The new figures come after previous NSPCC research has shown just how much the internet is used as a “gateway” by offenders. Last year, more than 3,000 sexual offences against children had a mandatory “cyber-flag” placed against them by the police, meaning that the incident involved the internet.
One 16-year-old girl who contacted Childline said: “My boyfriend is older than me and he makes me share pics and do stuff with other guys online. He gives me money and food when I go online and do things via webcam. I have not told anyone else what is happening, I am so scared and drink to forget.
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