Parents and educators in Midlothian, Scotland, are grappling with shock and concern after it emerged that dozens of primary school children were added to a WhatsApp group where they were encouraged to send explicit photographs. The incident, which came to light in mid-August 2025, centers on primary six pupils—typically aged nine or ten—at Paradykes Primary School in Loanhead, but has since revealed a wider reach involving children beyond just that school.
According to reports from BBC Scotland News and The Scottish Sun, the WhatsApp group contained a staggering 84 members, with messages that were described as “highly inappropriate, referring explicitly to body parts” and “requesting nude photos.” The group’s creators, alarmingly, instructed children “not to let parents know” they had been added and encouraged them to add as many peers as possible. The scale and nature of the group’s activity have prompted a swift response from authorities and ignited a broader conversation about online safety for young people.
The disturbing situation first came to light on August 14, 2025, when a concerned parent flagged the group to school officials. The following day, the head teacher at Paradykes Primary emailed parents of primary six pupils, warning them about the malicious group and urging them to check their children’s phones. The message, seen by both BBC Scotland News and The Scottish Sun, made clear that the group “goes well beyond Paradykes children,” suggesting that children from other schools or areas may also have been targeted.
“Some of the messages are highly inappropriate, referring explicitly to body parts and requesting nude photos,” the head teacher’s email stated, according to The Scottish Sun. The email also emphasized the need for parents to act quickly: “If your child is in the WhatsApp group, they should be removed immediately.” The chat’s contents, the school advised, can be reported to Child Exploitation and Online Protection Advisors for further investigation.
Police Scotland has launched inquiries into the group’s origins and activities. At the time of reporting, the investigation was at an early stage, but authorities confirmed that they were treating the matter with the utmost seriousness. “The head teacher has passed the matter to the police, and the council will issue guidance to all parents in Midlothian on how to keep their child safe online,” a spokesperson for Midlothian Council told BBC Scotland News. The council also reassured families that “support is available to any Paradykes Primary School pupil upset by this incident, if required.”
One noteworthy detail is that the group was not accessed using council-issued devices. At the start of the school term on August 13, 2025, children in Midlothian had been provided with devices by the local authority. However, a council investigation confirmed that the WhatsApp group was accessed using personal devices, not those distributed by the school. This distinction has underscored the challenges schools and parents face in monitoring digital communications that occur outside of the classroom environment.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta (the parent company of Facebook), has explicit guidelines regarding the minimum age for users. The app’s terms of service state that individuals must be at least 13 years old to use the platform—a threshold that was lowered from 16 last year. In a statement to BBC Scotland News, a WhatsApp spokesperson explained, “We give all users options to control who can add them to groups. The first time you receive a message from an unknown number and when you are added to a group, we give you more context and the option to exit or block and report.”
Despite these safeguards, the incident at Paradykes Primary demonstrates the limitations of technical barriers and the persistent need for vigilance. The group’s organizers appear to have exploited children’s trust and curiosity, encouraging them to expand the group’s membership and keep the activity hidden from adults. This tactic is, unfortunately, a common strategy in online exploitation cases, and it highlights the importance of open communication between children, parents, and educators.
In response to the incident, Midlothian Council has pledged to issue new guidance to all parents in the region, focusing on practical steps to keep children safe online. The council’s spokesperson stressed the urgency of the matter: “The head teacher at Paradykes Primary emailed P6 parents today after a parent reported concerns about the online safety of children on a WhatsApp group.” The council is also making support services available for any affected pupils, recognizing that incidents of this nature can be deeply distressing for young people.
The broader community response has been swift and supportive. Parents have been advised to check their children’s phones, remove them from any suspicious groups, and report concerning content to authorities. The school’s leadership has also encouraged families to discuss online safety openly with their children, ensuring they understand the risks of sharing personal information or images online. “Support is available to any Paradykes Primary School pupil upset by this incident, if required,” the council reiterated in its statement to the press.
Child safety advocates have pointed out that while digital platforms like WhatsApp provide useful tools for communication, they can also expose children to significant risks when not properly monitored. The fact that the group’s membership extended beyond Paradykes Primary suggests that the issue may not be isolated, and that similar tactics could be used to target children elsewhere. Experts recommend that parents familiarize themselves with the privacy settings of messaging apps and maintain an ongoing dialogue with their children about online behavior.
Police Scotland, meanwhile, has urged anyone with information about the group or its organizers to come forward. While the investigation continues, authorities are working closely with the school and local government to ensure that all affected children receive the support they need. The incident has also prompted calls for greater awareness and education around digital safety, particularly for younger children who may not fully grasp the potential dangers lurking in seemingly innocuous online spaces.
As the community of Loanhead and the wider Midlothian region comes to terms with the unsettling revelations, the incident at Paradykes Primary serves as a stark reminder of the evolving challenges of child protection in the digital age. The hope among parents, educators, and officials alike is that swift action, clear communication, and robust support will help prevent similar incidents in the future and keep children safe as they navigate the increasingly complex world of online interaction.