Sextortion & Child Safety: What Every Parent and Survivor Needs to Know

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For crisis support, text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line) or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

You Are Not Alone โ€” and This Is Not Your Fault

Sextortion is a form of online exploitation where someone threatens to share intimate images or information unless the victim complies with demands โ€” often for more images, money, or contact. It is happening at alarming rates, targeting children, teens, and adults alike. If you or someone you love has experienced this, know this first: it is never the victim's fault.

What Is Sextortion?

Sextortion occurs when a predator coerces a victim โ€” often through deception, manipulation, or hacking โ€” into sharing intimate images, then threatens to release those images unless demands are met. It can happen through social media, gaming platforms, messaging apps, and even Snapchat.

Victims are often too ashamed or frightened to speak up. But silence only gives predators more power. Speaking up is an act of courage.

For Parents: Warning Signs to Watch For

  • Your child becomes secretive about their phone or online activity
  • Unexplained gifts, money, or new accounts appearing
  • Withdrawal, anxiety, depression, or changes in behavior
  • Reluctance to attend school or social activities
  • References to someone they met online who "understands them"

If Your Child Is Being Sextorted: Immediate Steps

  1. Stay calm โ€” your reaction sets the tone. Reassure them they are not in trouble.
  2. Do not comply with demands โ€” paying or sending more images escalates the situation.
  3. Preserve evidence โ€” screenshot messages and threats before blocking the predator.
  4. Report immediately โ€” to the platform, to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and to local law enforcement.
  5. Get support โ€” your child needs to know they are loved and believed.

Featured Resource: HelpingSurvivors.org

The SCG Wellness Resource Library is proud to feature this important resource from HelpingSurvivors.org โ€” a trusted organization dedicated to supporting survivors of abuse and exploitation.

Their guide on documenting sextortion provides step-by-step guidance on how to preserve evidence, report to authorities, and protect yourself or your child during an active sextortion situation.

Read the Full Guide at HelpingSurvivors.org โ†’

You Deserve Support

Healing from sextortion and sexual exploitation is possible. You don't have to navigate this alone. The SCG community is here โ€” with compassion, resources, and a judgment-free space to find your way forward.

Additional Crisis Resources

This article is for educational and support purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal or mental health advice.

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