Sextortion
Sextortion is blackmail using intimate images, or the threat of sharing them, to force a young person to pay, send more images or comply; police in Winnipeg report a sharp rise and say victims should not pay and should tell someone.
Should I worry?
Sextortion is a crime in which someone gets an intimate image through deception, pressure or a past relationship, then threatens to share it to get money, gift cards, more images or control. It often starts with a stranger using a fake identity to build trust, then moves the chat to a private messaging app and turns to secrecy and threats. Watch for a teen who suddenly seems panicked or ashamed, is secretive about their phone, is upset after messages, or has money or gift cards go missing. If it happens, stay calm and tell your teen they are not in trouble. Don't pay and don't keep replying. Keep the messages and profile details as evidence, and report it. Shame keeps victims silent, and silence is what these schemes depend on.
How to join in
Most teens never see this coming because it starts like any online friendship or flirtation: a friendly new contact, lots of attention, then a push to go private. Kids use messaging apps constantly to stay in touch, and that is normal. A good way in is to ask what they do when someone they don't know well wants to chat privately or asks for photos, and to make it clear you would always rather hear about it than have them handle it alone.
Try saying
“If anyone ever pressures you for photos or threatens you with one, I won't be angry, and you won't be in trouble. It's a crime, and it's on them, not you. Come get me right away, and we'll deal with it 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 can help get intimate images taken down. Kids Help Phone is there for your teen at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting 686868. If your teen talks about hurting themselves, call or text 988 right away.
Sources
From Mistlift, mistlift.app. Plain talk about what kids are into online.