Online sextortion is one of the most dangerous and fastest-growing threats facing young people today. As technology advances, predators are finding new, more insidious ways to exploit innocence, trust, and youthful curiosity. For families, educators, and communities, understanding sextortion is the first step toward prevention and protection.
What Is Sextortion — and How Predators Operate
Sextortion is a form of blackmail in which a perpetrator coerces someone into sending explicit images or videos, or threatens to leak existing sensitive content in exchange for money, further imagery, or silence. With deepfakes and AI-mediated manipulation, the threat becomes even more dangerous: sometimes the extortionist doesn’t even need real content.
According to a 2025 study by a leading cyber-security company, one in six mobile users reported having been targeted by an extortion scam, with younger users,including Gen Z disproportionately affected.
Data from child-protection hotlines in Europe also show that during Q1 2025, online sexual coercion and extortion of minors (what we call sextortion) made up over 8% of all helpline contacts, a troubling figure given under-reporting around shame, fear, and stigma.
Because sextortion can start simply: a “friendly” chat, a request for a private photo, or an invitation to a private platform. It can be very hard to spot. Predators often spend weeks or months building trust before making threats.
Why Teens Are Especially Vulnerable
Several factors make teenagers and pre-teens particularly at risk:
- Lack of awareness: A 2025 report from the UK’s authorities showed that around 74% of teenage boys do not fully understand what sextortion is, and many don’t recognize attempts when they occur.
- Digital intimacy + pressure: Teens often believe that sharing images with “trusted friends” is harmless. Predators exploit that trust.
- Social and emotional vulnerability: Shame, fear, or the hope of secrecy make teens hesitant to tell a trusted adult if something goes wrong.
- Deepfake & AI threats: When artificial intelligence is used to simulate explicit content, even teens who never sent images can be blackmailed with fake or manipulated material.
In a recent survey of teens and young adults aged 13–20, one in five (20%) reported personally experiencing sextortion, and among LGBTQ+ youth, rates were higher.
⚠️ Warning Signs Your Child May Be a Target
Be alert if you notice:
- Unexplained secretive behavior around their phone or computer
- Withdrawal from social interactions after using the internet
- Sudden anxiety, fear of reputation damage, or strong emotional distress
- Unusual demands for money or secrecy around “private” chats
- Refusal or shame when asked about online activity or friends
- Receiving threatening or blackmail messages, even if they haven’t shared anything
Because sextortion thrives on isolation and shame, early detection and open communication are crucial to breaking its power.
🆘 How to Respond — If It Happens
If you suspect your child is being targeted:
- Stay calm and provide emotional support: victims often fear judgment or punishment.
- Preserve all evidence: Screenshots, messages, usernames, timestamps. This helps if you need to report the abuse.
- Report to platform moderators immediately (social media, chat apps, browsers), and consider involving school officials if peers are involved.
- If threats escalate, report to local law enforcement.
- Talk openly with your child about what happened. Reassure them: they are not alone, and this is not their fault.
📚 Resources for Immediate Help
- National and international child-safety hotlines
- Trusted nonprofit organizations specializing in online abuse and sextortion (e.g. child-protection nonprofits)
- Mental-health professionals or school counselors experienced in adolescent trauma and online abuse
- Educational materials on sextortion, digital safety, and consent
At CyberSafely Foundation, we are committed to providing tools, support, and education to help families, schools, and communities protect children from sextortion and online abuse.
✅ Final Thought
Sextortion isn’t just another online scam, it is a severe violation that can have lifelong emotional and psychological consequences. But with awareness, open communication, education, and timely intervention, we can reduce the risk and protect our youth.
Let’s stay vigilant, stay connected, and make the internet a safer place for children.