Internet safety expert warns of online risks for children, following the sentencing of a Luton teenager
19-year-old Nicholas Prosper accessed and viewed videos of extreme violence before turning a weapon on three members of his family
Last updated 21st Mar 2025
An internet safety expert is calling on parents to check in on what their children are viewing online, following the incarceration of a Luton teenager who viewed videos of extreme violence before murdering three members of his family.
19-year-old Nicholas Prosper had accessed videos of extreme violence and graphic content, and had researched mass school shootings and prolific killers for over a year before his planned attack.
In a video posted after murdering his mum, brother and sister at the flat they all lived in, he references a video game character, and violence he planned on inflicting on his sister.
Concerns have now emerged over the accessibility of harmful online content.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Guy Copitch, Head of Campaigns at Internet Matters, a not-for-profit organisation offering information and support to protect children from online harm, highlighted the challenges parents face in keeping their children safe online.
He said: "The content can be accessed in so many different ways. With the implementation of algorithms, kids can find themselves seeing stuff that they might not intend to see."
Mr Copitch explained that because of how these algorithms work, children may not even be actively looking for harmful content.
"It comes across and starts going into their feed because other people have liked or engaged with it, which means more people are going to end up seeing it," he said.
The impact of this exposure is becoming increasingly distressing for young users.
"We know that almost two-thirds of kids experience some kind of online harm," Mr Copitch added. "But what we've seen even more so, especially in the last year, is it's upsetting kids more and more."
While some parents may not detect any immediate issues with their child’s online behaviour, Mr Copitch stressed the importance of proactive engagement.
One approach recommended by Internet Matters is their 'ABC online safety checklist', a simple framework designed to help parents safeguard their children’s digital experiences:
A is for activating parental controls—making sure they're on devices, browsers, and apps.
B is for balancing screen time—ensuring a mixture of both beneficial and enjoyable online activities while also spending time offline.
C is about checking in and chatting—talking regularly to your child, understanding what they’re doing online, and engaging with them in their digital world.
Mr Copitch also advised parents to remain observant of changes in their child's behaviour.
"Looking for things like if they start to mention people they've not mentioned before, if they're being more secretive, or if their mood changes—especially if they’re spending excessive time online at night—can be signs of concern," he said.
Concerns around the impact of video games, an issue that has long been debated in relation to their potential to expose children to violent or graphic material, remain.
Mr Copitch noted that the focus should be on ensuring content is age-appropriate.
He said: "There are, of course, ratings for gaming, and having that in mind is important," he said. "Similar to any device or platform, there are controls in place to manage what your child is seeing."
Social media platforms such as TikTok also present new challenges, particularly in the spread of viral content.
While the risks of online harm are growing, Internet Matters is keen to ensure that digital spaces are not framed as purely negative environments.
For parents looking for more guidance, Internet Matters provides resources such as a 'family agreement document' to help establish digital boundaries, and the 'My Family Digital Toolkit', which offers personalised advice based on a child's age, interests, and a parent's specific concerns.