Beware of Sextortion: Protect Children on Social Media
Casal dels Infants – Sextortion, or sexual extortion, is a growing cybercrime that primarily targets underage children, especially active on social media. The perpetrators are indifferent to the harm caused to the victims, with their main motivation being financial gain.
According to a report by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK, sextortion typically begins with contact from unknown online accounts. Perpetrators often pretend to be other teenagers or use hacked accounts. Through psychological manipulation and social engineering tactics, they manage to obtain explicit images or videos of the victim. The victims are then blackmailed with threats to distribute their explicit content unless they meet the perpetrator’s financial demands.
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This crime is not only carried out by individuals but also involves organized crime groups from various parts of the world. The NCA reports that sextortion cases have been increasing, particularly among boys aged 14-18.
When dealing with sextortion, it is crucial for parents, teachers, and caregivers to recognize early signs and provide support to the children who are victims. The NCA urges adults to have open conversations with children about the dangers of this crime, offering support without shame or stigma. This helps children feel safe and encouraged to report if they become victims.
Technology companies also play a significant role in protecting their users. Social media platforms must implement stronger protective systems to prevent the spread of explicit images and threats from sextortionists. Children who become victims should be encouraged to report the situation immediately. They should reach out to trusted adults, such as parents, teachers, or authorities.
Services such as Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation in the UK provide help in removing distributed images. They also support victims in coping with the trauma caused by sextortion. Additionally, raising public awareness about this crime is crucial in reducing its psychological impact on victims.
Through appropriate preventive measures, we can help protect children from the threat of sextortion and create a safer space in the digital world.
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