Amit Kalley
What Is Sextortion?
Sextortion is the practice of extorting money or sexual favours from someone by threatening to reveal intimate images or videos. For children, it often begins with an adult pretending to be a peer online, persuading them to share compromising images, then threatening to expose those images unless money or further material is provided.
This crime has become one of the fastest-growing online threats facing children worldwide.
The Scale of the Problem
The statistics are chilling:
- UK figures: Snapchat and Facebook reported over 9,600 cases of grooming children in the UK in just six months last year; that’s about 400 a week.
- Global figures: The US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 546,000 reports in 2024 of adults soliciting children online; a 192% increase on the previous year.
- Hidden reality: These numbers likely understate the true scale. Reports usually come from tech firms, not victims, and many young people never disclose what’s happened out of fear or shame.
The NSPCC described these figures as “shocking.” Unfortunately, they are not surprising to those who study online harms.
Why Sextortion Is Rising
Several factors explain why sextortion is growing so rapidly:
- Accessibility of children online – Almost every child has access to social media or messaging apps, making them reachable by offenders.
- Anonymity of offenders – Perpetrators can hide behind fake profiles or multiple accounts.
- Psychological manipulation – Offenders use grooming tactics, emotional pressure, and threats to trap victims.
- Organised exploitation – Investigators have found entire manuals circulating online teaching offenders how to exploit young people.
A study published in Child Abuse & Neglect (Quayle et al., 2022) highlights how offenders exploit children’s trust, peer pressure, and embarrassment to maintain control, making sextortion both psychologically and financially devastating for victims.
The Impact on Children
The effects of sextortion go far beyond the immediate threat:
- Mental health harm: Victims often experience severe anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
- Shame and silence: Many children don’t disclose what’s happening, which prevents them from getting help.
- Family distress: Parents are often unaware until the situation escalates.
What Parents Can Do
While this issue can feel overwhelming, there are concrete steps parents can take.
1. Talk Early and Often
Normalise open conversations about online life. Encourage your child to share if someone makes them uncomfortable, without fear of punishment.
2. Teach the Red Flags
Explain grooming tactics; secrecy, flattery, requests for images, or pressure to act quickly. Children who recognise warning signs are more likely to resist.
3. Remove Shame
Make sure children know that if they’ve shared something, it’s not their fault. Offenders rely on shame and silence to keep control.
4. Report and Seek Support
In the UK, reports can be made to CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command). The NSPCC also offers a dedicated helpline for parents and children. Screenshots and saved messages can help police track offenders.
Why I Support Stronger Protections
Given the scale of harm, I strongly support a legislated ban on under-16s using social media. Children are simply too vulnerable to be exposed to such risks without stronger protections in place.
This isn’t about fearmongering; it’s about facing reality. Dangerous individuals and organised gangs are targeting children daily, right in front of our eyes.
Sextortion is one of the most devastating online crimes, and it’s rising fast. Parents can’t afford to sit on the sidelines. We must stay informed, have difficult conversations with our children, and advocate for stronger protections.
Because while the online world offers opportunities, it also holds dangers that children cannot be expected to navigate alone.