Sextortion
What sextortion is, how it targets young people, and what to do if your child is being blackmailed with intimate images.
What is this?
Sextortion occurs when someone threatens to share intimate or sexual images of a child unless they comply with demands — often for more images, money, or other favours. It is a growing threat that disproportionately affects teenagers, and it can escalate very rapidly.
How it works
Offenders typically make contact through social media or gaming platforms, often posing as a peer or romantic interest. After building trust, they persuade the young person to share an intimate image. Once obtained, they threaten to send it to friends, family, or school contacts unless the child complies with further demands. Some organised crime groups run sextortion operations at scale, targeting multiple victims simultaneously.
Warning signs
In your child's behaviour
- • Sudden extreme anxiety, panic, or emotional distress — particularly after using their device
- • Withdrawing from family and friends and appearing frightened or hopeless
- • Asking for money or gift cards without a clear reason
On their device
- • Receiving messages from unknown accounts that contain threats or demands
- • Evidence of video calls with strangers in the device's call history
- • Sudden deletion of an entire social media account or creation of new accounts
Prevention steps
Have honest conversations about intimate images
Explain that sharing intimate images — even with someone they trust — creates a permanent risk. Make it clear that if something goes wrong, they will not be in trouble for coming to you.
Teach critical thinking about online identities
Help your child understand that people online may not be who they claim to be. Discuss how offenders use fake photos, flattery, and emotional manipulation to build false trust.
Enable strict privacy settings
Lock down social media profiles so that only approved contacts can send messages or view personal information. Disable the ability for strangers to initiate video calls.
What to do if it happens
- 1Reassure your child immediately — they are the victim, not the offender, and they are not in trouble.
- 2Do not pay or comply with any demands, as this almost always leads to further threats.
- 3Report to CEOP, contact the police on 101, and report the account to the platform. The IWF can also help remove images.
Related topics
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last reviewed: 2025-06-15