Protecting Our Teenagers from Sextortion

The scary new trend of sextortion can become overwhelming to navigate. Parents are often paralyzed when they hear their child has dabbled in this area or has fully fallen victim to one of these criminals. Many parents feel they have failed their children when this happens. However, the reality is that this can happen to any teen at any time. The best line of defense is understanding the issue and having a plan. Fight The New Drug (resource link below) is a great place to start learning what we can do to help teens.

Talking to Your Kids about Sextortion

Consider the following when talking to your child about sextortion.

• Understand that teens are hearing about sexual things far before we think to sit down and talk with them about it.
• Don’t be afraid to bring up sextortion with your teenager. If they have access to the internet, you MUST be talking to them.
• Find a good time and a comfortable location to talk so that your teen won’t be embarrassed or feel exposed.
• Ask good questions. What kind of things are you hearing in school? Do you ever receive messages from strangers? How do you handle those messages?
• Once they begin to feel comfortable, ask them what questions they have and assure them you won’t overreact. (Then don’t overreact!)
• Don’t hide things because you are afraid it will either scare or encourage them. It is better to hear about pitfalls from a parent than to discover them on their own.
• Check back in often for more information and to assure your teen that you are there if they need to talk.
• NEVER be afraid to admit you don’t know but you will work with them to figure it out.
• Ask for professional help when needed or for general support

Things to Tell Your Kids about Sextortion

It is often hard to hear that your teen has fallen into one of these traps. We can start to judge ourselves or blame the teen. Instead, remember that this is a crime committed against a minor and our place is at their side to help with healing.

• Never send compromising images of yourself to anyone, no matter who they are or what they say.
• Use strong and unique passwords online.
• Don’t open suspicious attachments or click on links, emails, or messages from someone you don’t know.
• Be aware of the tactics perpetrators use.
• Report suspicious activities.
• Turn off your electronic devices and web cameras when not being used.
• Don’t accept friend or follow requests online from anyone you don’t know in real life.
• Don’t provide any identifying personal information if someone asks and tell a trusted adult immediately.

What to Do if Your Teen has Fallen Victim to Sextortion

If your teen is a victim of sextortion:

• No matter the threat, don’t respond to the blackmailer’s initial contact or comply with their demands. Engaging only encourages them, and not reacting can help reduce the likelihood of the threat being carried out.
• Seek support from trusted individuals and organizations so they can provide guidance on next steps.
• Report the crime to local law enforcement and to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or reporting it online at tips.fbi.gov.
• Preserve evidence and store it in a secure place. Don’t delete any conversations, emails, or files shared during the interaction. These will be critical if legal action is pursued.
• Seek support from trusted family and friends. Also, seek professional assistance from counselors and therapists. You may want to consider legal support.
• Take steps to protect your digital identity, including changing or strengthening passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and staying informed about cyber threats and best practices.

NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. Much of the information in this article is taken from Fight the New Drug. You can learn more at:
https://fightthenewdrug.org/understanding-sextortion-a-growing-threat/
https://ourrescue.org/understanding-sextortion
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/2025/02/25/financial-sextortion-victims/80243349007/