In an increasingly digital world, our children are growing up online—socializing, learning, and exploring on platforms that didn’t exist a generation ago. But with these opportunities come serious risks, including one of the most insidious and growing threats facing youth today: sextortion. 

This form of online exploitation has devastating emotional, psychological, and even physical consequences for children and teens. As cases surge across the globe, it’s critical that parents, guardians, teachers, and school staff understand what sextortion is, how it works, how it affects kids, and most importantly—what we can do to prevent it. 

What Is Sextortion? 

Sextortion is a form of online blackmail in which a predator threatens to release explicit images or personal information of the victim unless they comply with demands—typically for more images, videos, or money. It often begins with deception, flattery, or manipulation, where the offender gains the trust of the child online before coercing them into sending sexually explicit content. 

Once an image is shared, the predator uses it as leverage, trapping the victim in a cycle of fear and compliance. Shame becomes a potent tool of control, especially for boys, who are often conditioned to hide emotional vulnerability. This makes them particularly susceptible to manipulation, as predators exploit their fear of humiliation and exposure. Many boys, overwhelmed by embarrassment, feel too ashamed or terrified to tell anyone, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked 

How Are Kids Being Targeted? 

Offenders often use social media, gaming platforms, or chat apps to pose as peers—sometimes even using stolen or AI-generated photos to create fake profiles. Children and teens may believe they’re forming a real relationship or friendship, only to be manipulated into sharing intimate content. 

Common tactics used by offenders include: 

  • Posing as another teen or peer 
  • Offering compliments or pretending to flirt 
  • Luring the child into a private chat 
  • Requesting images under the guise of mutual trust 
  • Threatening to expose the victim if they don’t send more content or pay money 

The anonymity of the internet emboldens these predators and makes it harder for children to identify when something is wrong—especially when they believe they’re speaking with someone their own age. 

Current Stats on Sextortion 

In recent years, online sextortion targeting children has surged dramatically. Cases once measured in the low hundreds now routinely number in the tens of thousands. The problem is growing at an alarming rate.  It is important to remember that most incidents go unreported.   According to the FBI: 

 

Law Enforcement Spotlight: Operation Artemis 

To combat the international scale of sextortion, the FBI launched Operation Artemis, a large-scale initiative targeting global child exploitation and sextortion rings. The operation involved undercover investigations, arrests, and multi-agency collaboration across borders to stop predators who prey on children online. 

What makes Operation Artemis so notable is that it highlights how organized and far-reaching these crimes have become. Offenders are not just individuals acting alone—they’re often part of coordinated networks that target hundreds or even thousands of victims from different countries. 

Learn more about the operation here: 
🔗 FBI’s Operation Artemis Tackles Sextortion 

This kind of real-world example shows how essential law enforcement, international cooperation, and public awareness are in disrupting the growing threat of online sextortion. 

The Emotional and Psychological Impact on Kids 

The effects of sextortion on young people can be devastating and long-lasting. Many victims experience: 

  • Severe anxiety and depression 
  • Shame, isolation, and withdrawal from friends or family 
  • Loss of trust in others and self-esteem issues 
  • Academic decline or school avoidance 
  • In extreme cases, self-harm or suicide 

Because sextortion preys on secrecy and shame, victims often don’t speak up. That silence can be deadly. 

How Parents, Teachers and Guardians Can Help 

Early intervention and open communication are key to protecting kids from sextortion. Here are some tips for prevention and response: 

Open the Conversation 

  • Talk to children early and often about online safety and healthy boundaries. 
  • Make sure they understand that once something is shared, it can’t be taken back, even if it’s deleted. 
  • Reinforce that no one—not even a friend or romantic interest—should pressure them to send explicit content. 

Watch for Warning Signs 

  • Sudden changes in mood or behavior 
  • Increased secrecy or withdrawal from devices 
  • Reluctance to go to school or interact socially 
  • Sudden anxiety around online activity 
  • Requests for money or unexplained payments 

Encourage Kids to Come Forward 

  • Let children know that they won’t be punished if they come forward—emphasize that the predator is at fault, not them. 
  • Reassure them that help is available, and they are not alone. 

If Sextortion Is Happening: 

  • Do not engage with the predator or pay any ransom. 
  • Preserve evidence: screenshots, messages, usernames, and images can help law enforcement track down offenders. 
  • Report immediately to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov and to NCMEC (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children). 
  • Notify school staff or administrators for support and to ensure the child is safe. 
  • Seek mental health support for the child—early intervention can significantly reduce trauma. 

 

A Deeper Look: Listen to Our Podcast on Sextortion 

To explore this topic further, we sat down with SSA Greg Hansen from the FBI San Diego field office on the latest episode of our Inside the Sweeps podcast; FBI San Diego Shares Tips to Keep Kids Safe Online and Avoid Sextortion. The conversation offers a deeper understanding of sextortion’s rise, the strategies predators use, and what law enforcement is doing to combat it. 

  • Listen to the full podcast: HERE 
  • Read the full transcript and explore additional resources: HERE 

 

FBI Resources to Share with Families and Educators 

If you or someone you know is experiencing online exploitation, it’s important to remember you are not alone—and help is available. There are trusted resources that provide support, reporting tools, and educational materials for families, educators, and communities: 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) – www.missingkids.org 

  • Report through the CyberTipline 
  • Access victim support services and educational resources 
  • Use Take It Down, a free service to help remove explicit images from the internet: takeitdown.ncmec.org 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – www.fbi.gov 

  • Submit tips through the FBI Tipline 
  • Explore the Safe Online Surfing (SOS) program for student digital safety 
  • Learn more about sextortion, online exploitation, and human trafficking 

Department of Justice – Project Safe Childhood – www.justice.gov/psc 

  • A national initiative focused on protecting children from online predators and exploitation 

These sites offer detailed guidance on how to report, protect, and respond to sextortion cases. They also include downloadable resources, tip lines, and prevention strategies tailored for youth and families. 

Final Thoughts: Awareness Is Our Strongest Defense 

The digital world isn’t going away—and neither are the dangers lurking within it. But by arming ourselves and our children with knowledge, tools, and support, we can break the silence that predators rely on and stop sextortion in its tracks. 

Parents, teachers, and law enforcement must work together to create an environment where kids feel safe coming forward and where predators have nowhere to hide. 

Together, we can protect kids from one of the most dangerous crimes of the digital age—and ensure they grow up not just connected but protected.