764 network
Police in Canada say 764, a violent online group within the wider Com network, reaches kids through chat in social and gaming apps and pressures them into sharing intimate images or harming themselves, so it is worth knowing about even though reporting so far rests on one case.
Should I worry?
Police describe 764 as a group that glorifies serious violence and targets children and teens by manipulating them into sharing intimate images or taking part in self-harm, violence or animal cruelty. The pattern to watch for is an online contact, often a stranger, who builds trust quickly, asks for secrecy, pushes a move to a private chat, and then uses threats or pressure to keep a child compliant. Warning signs include a child hiding their screen, being upset after messages, new contacts they won't talk about, or sudden withdrawal or signs of self-harm. Learn which apps your child uses, review privacy and chat settings together, and make clear that they can tell you about anything that happened online without losing their device or being blamed. If something has happened, keep the evidence, don't confront the contact, and report it.
How to join in
This isn't a trend kids join for fun, so there is nothing to try out alongside them. The way in is curiosity about their online world: ask who they chat with in games and social apps, which people they only know online, and what they would do if a stranger made them uncomfortable. Kids tend to open up when the question is about their world rather than about a scary headline.
Try saying
“I read that some people online try to befriend kids in game and app chats and then pressure them to do things they don't want to. If anyone ever asks you to keep a secret, send a picture or hurt yourself, you can tell me right away and you won't be in trouble. I'm on your side, whatever happened.”
If you’re worried
If your child is in immediate danger or talking about self-harm, call 911; for thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. To report online sexual exploitation or threats, contact Cybertip.ca. If intimate images of your child have been shared, NeedHelpNow.ca helps get them removed. Your child can also reach Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting 686868.
Sources
From Mistlift, mistlift.app. Plain talk about what kids are into online.