Who do children tell? Disclosing abuse is not always an option. It may not feel necessary; for others, it may seem unlikely to make any difference. In some cases, it can feel simply impossible. There is not always a clear moment when harm is recognized as abuse, only a sense that something was not quite right or felt uncomfortable. Without that clarity, it can be difficult to articulate what happened or know who to turn to. In this context, abuse is easily minimized. It was probably not serious enough. Maybe it was nothing. Am I overreacting? When experiences like receiving unwanted sexual images or being pressured to share explicit images are common and normalized, it becomes even harder to recognize them as violations that warrant support or intervention. The idea of speaking up also brings its own risks. Will anyone believe me? Will I get in trouble? Am I to blame? Feelings of shame, fear of judgement and embarrassment further discourage disclosure. These are not just personal concerns; they are shaped by wider social norms, including those related to gender roles, sexuality and responsibility, which influence how children understand their experiences and whether they feel safe and able to share them. While some of these barriers manifest differently, they often lead to the same outcome: silence. Through Children’s Eyes Who do children tell? 26