Help! I’m Getting Unwanted Attention

Unwanted attention can be a nightmare. It’s important to remember that anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe is not okay, and it’s not something you have to put up with.

If you’re worried because the person giving you attention is older than you, or they’re trying to pressure you into doing something that you don’t want to, you should tell a trusted adult (teacher, parent or care worker) and avoid putting yourself in a risky situation. If you aren’t sure what a risky situation is, check out the Wud U app.

If you’re getting unwanted attention online from someone you don’t know, it’s time to tell a trusted adult. Make sure you are keeping yourself safe online by checking out the “Think U Know” website which gives you hints and tips about staying safe.

Sometimes unwanted attention can be a tricky situation to find yourself in, if this attention is coming from a friend or classmate. You might feel that telling them that you are not interested could make things awkward or ruin a friendship, but this is not necessarily the case.

Things might feel awkward for a while, but in the long run it is be better for the both of you to be honest, as you will both know where you stand. It might be that the other person doesn’t realise that the attention is unwanted, so telling this person how you feel will make things really clear for them.

This conversation can be difficult, so here are a few things you can do to make it easier for both of you:

Have a private conversation
It’s already going to be embarrassing for both of you, so try asking to speak to the person on their own or sending them a private message.

Don’t wait
It’s better to deal with it as soon as you can, otherwise it could make you feel worse or under pressure.

Be assertive but kind
You should put your point across, but this can be done without hurting the other person or being nasty. Check out tips on how to be assertive on the Childline website.

Be honest
It’s important to be honest and clear so that the other person knows that you would prefer if they stopped their behaviour.

If the conversation hasn’t worked, you can always tell a trusted adult, who will try to help you deal with the situation.

Unwanted sexual attention

It’s definitely not okay for someone to make unwanted sexual remarks towards you, or about you, as this is a form of sexual harassment. If this is happening and you’re under 18, then you should report this straight away to a trusted adult.

Sexting can be a form of unwanted sexual attention which involves sending sexual text messages. If this sounds like the kind of thing that’s happening to you, we have an article that could help. Speak to a trusted adult immediately if someone sends you something that you don’t feel comfortable with.

The most important thing to remember is that if you aren’t happy, tell someone. Meic is someone on your side every day, 8am until Midnight. You can chat to us for free about anything that’s bothering you (no matter how big or small you think it is.) We don’t show up on the phone bill, and we will never judge you.