It’s estimated that in 2022, close to 3.96 billion people worldwide used social media. The power of social media is advantageous for several reasons: global connectivity, community involvement, marketing capabilities, access to information, and opportunities for online learning or remote employment. However, with all its benefits, the nature of social media presents a range of potential issues, one of which is sextortion.
According to the FBI, sextortion is a crime that transpires when someone is coerced into sending explicit images online and extorted for money. These schemes often occur in environments where young people feel most comfortable, such as social media sites or video chat applications that feel familiar and safe. The perpetrators, mainly originating from outside the United States, often use fake accounts to target young kids, primarily boys aged 14 to 17; however, the FBI said that investigators have interviewed victims as young as 10.
Predators convince their target to produce explicit photos or videos, and once they have it, threaten to release the compromising material unless they’re sent money or gift cards. Even if the victim sends the money, officials say the predators often release the photos anyway. The shame, fear, and confusion victims feel when caught in this cycle often prevent them from asking for help or reporting the abuse. They can often feel vulnerable about their invaded privacy and may be afraid that they will get in trouble with whoever they tell for what has occurred.
Over the past year, law enforcement has received over 7,000 reports related to the online financial sextortion of minors, resulting in over 3,000 victims and more than a dozen suicides – and there are even more victims who are afraid to come forward that are not included in those numbers. These predators are going after young kids online who are vulnerable, scared, and ashamed. It’s a growing crisis that can devastate children and families.
So, how can we prevent this? The best defense against this crime is to talk to your children about what to do if they are targeted. They also need to know they can come to you and do not have to keep things to themselves, thinking they’re to blame. Armed with the information, parents, caregivers, and children will hopefully feel empowered to recognize fake identities, take steps to reject any attempt to obtain private material, and, if targeted, have a plan to seek a trusted adult. In addition, encourage those in your care to consider the following:
The predator is to blame, not you
Don’t delete anything
Get help before deciding to pay the money or comply with the predator in any way
If you are receiving sextortion threats, you are not alone
If you or your child fall victim to sextortion, report these incidents to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or you can report it online at https://tips.fbi.gov/.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) can also help. To report your sexually-exploitive images/videos to the CyberTipline, call 1-800-THE-LOST or make a report at https://report.cybertip.org/. NCMEC can also help get any images that are out there down and provides resources and access to individuals if you or your child need someone to talk to: https://www.missingkids.org/isyourexplicitcontentoutthere
Written by Montana Banks, Freedom 4/24 Volunteer
Sources
https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/newss-what-is-sextortion/view
https://fox59.com/news/fbi-seeing-explosion-in-reports-of-young-boys-being-extorted-online/