Sextortion is one of the fastest-growing online threats facing children. The FBI received nearly 55,000 reports of sextortion and extortion in 2024, and Canada's Cybertip.ca received nearly 3,000 sextortion reports in 2025, up from 460 in 2020. Boys aged 14–17 are the most common targets, but any child can be victimised, including children as young as 10. Here is exactly what to do if it happens to your child.
What Sextortion Looks Like
A predator contacts a child — usually on Snapchat, Discord, Instagram, or a gaming platform — and convinces them to share an intimate image. Sometimes the predator sends an explicit image first (often stolen or AI-generated) to create a sense of reciprocity. Once the child shares an image, the predator immediately threatens to send it to the child's friends, family, school, or social media followers unless money or more images are provided.
A 15-year-old boy received a DM on Instagram from an account claiming to be a 16-year-old girl. After exchanging photos, the "girl" revealed she was actually a man and threatened to send the photos to his entire contact list unless he paid $500. The boy was terrified and did not tell anyone for three days.
The First 60 Minutes: What to Do
Critical Rule
DO NOT PAY. Never pay a blackmailer. Payment does not make the problem go away — it confirms that the tactic works and the demands will escalate. The FBI and Cybertip.ca both advise against paying.
Step 1: Stay Calm
Your child is already terrified. If you react with anger or panic, they may withdraw further. Reassure them that this is not their fault and that you will help them through it.
Step 2: Screenshot Everything
Capture all messages, usernames, profile photos, and threats before the predator can delete them. Include timestamps. This evidence is critical for law enforcement.
Step 3: Stop Communication
Do not respond to the predator. Do not negotiate. Do not threaten them. Simply stop replying. Block the account after screenshotting everything.
Step 4: Report to Platforms
Report the account on every platform where contact occurred. Report the specific messages as sexual exploitation of a minor. Major platforms have reporting tools for this.
Where to Report
- NCMEC CyberTipline — missingkids.org — The primary US reporting channel. Reports are forwarded to the FBI and international law enforcement.
- NCMEC Take It Down — takeitdown.ncmec.org — Free service to remove non-consensual intimate images of anyone under 18. Works with major platforms. No image upload required.
- Cybertip.ca — cybertip.ca — Canada's national tip line for online child exploitation.
- Need Help Now — needhelpnow.ca — Canadian support and image-removal help for youth who have been sextorted.
- FBI IC3 — ic3.gov — The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- Local law enforcement — File a police report. Sextortion is a crime in every jurisdiction.
Protecting Your Child After
The emotional aftermath of sextortion can be severe. Children often experience shame, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Here is how to support them:
- Acknowledge their courage — Telling someone takes enormous bravery. Reinforce that they did the right thing.
- Remove the shame — Make it clear that the predator is the criminal, not the child. They were manipulated.
- Monitor for signs of distress — Watch for changes in behaviour, sleep, appetite, or social withdrawal.
- Consider professional support — A counsellor or therapist experienced with online exploitation can help.
- Report to the school — If the images may have been shared within the school community, the school needs to know to provide support.