Sextortion
Sextortion is when someone, often a scammer posing as a teen, gets or fakes an intimate image of a young person and threatens to share it unless they pay, and AI-made fake images are making it harder for families to spot.
Should I worry?
Sextortion is a real, documented crime, and teen boys are the most common targets. It usually starts with a friendly stranger who seems to be a teen and who builds trust quickly. The conversation moves to a more private app, then a photo is requested or faked, and then come threats and demands for money. Watch for a kid who is suddenly anxious, secretive about their phone, jumpy at notifications, or asking for money or gift cards. Shame keeps many boys silent, so tell your child ahead of time that they will never be in trouble for telling you. If it is happening, stay calm, stop all contact, do not pay, keep the messages and usernames as evidence, and report it. Fake images made with AI can be used for the same threats, so a child does not have to have sent anything to be targeted.
How to join in
Most teens know the online world better than we do, and they also know that a friendly stranger isn't always who they claim to be. Kids chat with people they've never met through games, social apps and friend suggestions, and a quick, flattering connection feels normal to them. A good way in is curiosity: ask how they decide whether someone online is real, and what they would do if a chat suddenly turned uncomfortable. Mention that AI can now fake images, so a threat can be made even if nothing was ever sent.
Try saying
“I heard that scammers pretend to be teens online and then threaten kids with photos, even fake ones made with AI. If anything like that ever happened to you, or even felt weird, you can tell me. I would never be mad at you, and we would sort it out together.”
If you’re worried
If your child is in immediate danger, call 911. Report online sexual exploitation and sextortion to Cybertip.ca. NeedHelpNow.ca helps get intimate images removed. Kids Help Phone is there for your teen at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting 686868. If your child talks about hurting themselves, call or text 988 right away.
Sources
From Mistlift, mistlift.app. Plain talk about what kids are into online.