As a Dungeon Master (DM) on Young Heroes, you spend real time with the kids at your table. That means you may be one of the first adults to notice when something is wrong. This guide explains what to watch for and exactly what to do if you ever suspect a Young Hero is being harmed.
You do not need to be certain. You do not need proof. If something makes you worried about a child's safety, that is enough to act.
The one rule that matters most
If you suspect a Young Hero is being abused, neglected, or harmed, you need to report it right away. Do not wait to gather more information, and do not try to investigate yourself. Reporting promptly is always the right call, even if it turns out to be nothing. You will not get in trouble for reporting a concern in good faith.
Signs to watch for
You are not expected to diagnose anything. You are only expected to notice and report. Trust your instincts if any of the following comes up during or around a session.
A Young Hero tells you directly
A Young Hero says they are being hurt, touched, neglected, or made to feel unsafe by someone.
A Young Hero describes something at home or with a caregiver that sounds harmful or frightening.
What you see or hear during a session
Serious, repeated, or unexplained injuries.
A Young Hero who seems unusually fearful, withdrawn, or distressed in a way that goes beyond ordinary shyness.
Someone off camera who appears to be controlling, coaching, threatening, or frightening the Young Hero.
A Young Hero who appears to be in an unsafe or inappropriate environment during the session.
Contact outside the platform's rules
Anyone tries to reach or make private contact with a Young Hero outside the scheduled session.
An adult, such as another guardian, tries to talk to, question, or engage a Young Hero who is not their own child.
On Young Heroes, contact stays inside set channels. A DM interacts with Young Heroes only during the scheduled session on the call. A guardian interacts only with their own Young Hero, and guardians communicate with other guardians only through group messaging.
Anyone trying to step outside those channels to reach a child is a red flag, even if what they say seems harmless.
Any potential sexual exploitation involving a child
A Young Hero discloses that they are being sexually abused or exploited by anyone.
During a session, you see or hear something suggesting that a person in the Young Hero's environment, such as someone off camera, is behaving sexually toward them or pressuring them into something sexual.
A Young Hero shows knowledge of or interest in sexual matters that seems well beyond their age, which can be a sign of abuse.
In a group session, another participant sends or directs sexual content, images, or messages at a Young Hero.
That last category is the most serious and has its own reporting path. See "Reporting sexual content or exploitation" below.
What to do, step by step
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first.
Report to your local authorities right away. This means your local child protective services agency, a state child abuse hotline, or local law enforcement. Do this as soon as you can, and within 24 hours at the latest.
Tell StartPlaying right away, after you have reported to authorities. Contact us at youngheroes@startplaying.com. We will support you and take our own steps from there.
If the concern involves sexual content or exploitation, also file a report with the NCMEC CyberTipline (details below). This applies in addition to the steps above.
Cooperate with any follow-up from law enforcement or StartPlaying.
Why report to authorities before telling StartPlaying? In some states, the person who has the concern is expected to contact authorities first. Reporting directly keeps the decision in your hands and makes sure nothing delays it. StartPlaying will never discourage you from reporting or ask you to hold off, even while we are looking into the situation ourselves.
Who to contact
Situation | Who to contact | How |
A child is in immediate danger | Emergency services | Call 911 |
Suspected abuse or neglect | Local child protective services or law enforcement | Call your state or local child abuse hotline. Not sure where to start? The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can help you find the right number: call or text 1-800-422-4453 |
Sexual content or exploitation involving a child | NCMEC CyberTipline | Report online at report.cybertip.org, or call 1-800-843-5678 |
StartPlaying | Young Heroes Safety Team |
Note: The Childhelp hotline is a support and guidance line, not a reporting agency. Use it to figure out where and how to report. To actually file a report, contact your local authorities.
Reporting sexual content or exploitation
If you ever witness during a session, or learn from something a Young Hero tells you, that a child is being sexually abused or exploited, report it through a separate national channel in addition to your local report. Report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) through the CyberTipline:
Online: report.cybertip.org
Phone: 1-800-843-5678
This channel exists specifically for the sexual exploitation of children and always applies, no matter what state you or the child are in. StartPlaying also files its own report to the CyberTipline whenever we become aware of the sexual exploitation of a child in connection with our platform, but that does not replace a report from you.
Things that are good to know
You do not need the child's personal details. You can file a report without knowing the Young Hero's full name, address, or other private information. You are not expected to collect that. Report what you know and let the authorities take it from there.
Reasonable concern is enough. You are not deciding whether abuse happened. You are flagging a concern so that trained professionals can look into it.
Anyone can report, in every state. Regardless of your profession or where you live, you are always permitted to report a concern about a child, and StartPlaying expects you to.
You are protected for reporting in good faith. Reporting a genuine concern that turns out to be unfounded does not put you at risk.
StartPlaying supports you. We will never pressure you to stay quiet, delay, or drop a concern. If you are unsure what to do, reach out, and we will help you think it through, but do not let that conversation delay reporting to authorities.
What StartPlaying does after you report
Once you notify us, StartPlaying will:
File its own report with the appropriate authorities, and with the CyberTipline where sexual exploitation is involved.
Provide authorities with information you may not have access to, such as account details or session records, to help their investigation.
Preserve relevant records securely.
Cooperate fully with law enforcement.
You are not responsible for any of these steps. Your job is to notice, report, and tell us.
Quick reference
If... | Then... |
Someone is in immediate danger | Call 911 |
You suspect abuse or neglect | Report to local authorities, then tell StartPlaying, within 24 hours |
It involves anything sexual and a child | Also report to report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678 |
You are not sure if it counts | Report anyway. Reasonable concern is enough. |
You do not have the child's details | Report anyway. You do not need them. |