Tripling of Sextortion Cases

With summer freedom comes a quiet menace. Officials in North Carolina are growing increasingly concerned about the rise in online sextortion cases targeting teenagers. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation reports have confirmed a disconcerting pattern. Cases relating to this horrifying crime have more than tripled from 2019 to 2022, and indications suggest that we might be looking at a further rise this year.

The Stealthy Predators

Online predators demonstrate alarming tenacity and creativity as they infiltrate the lives of unsuspecting young targets. They show selective preference for social media, messaging features on games, and other online platforms to carry out their nefarious activities. What makes these individuals especially dangerous is their adeptness at impersonation. They typically pose as peers or as another child to gain trust and get closer to their prey.

Increasing Target Age-Range

Historically, teenagers have been the primary targets of such predatory behavior, however, with the evolving digital landscape, the predators are not shy of preying on considerably younger kids.

Protecting Youth Online: A Clarion Call to Parents

North Carolina’s top officials urge parents to put up a strong defense to safeguard their children against online invasions. At the helm of this constituency is U.S. Attorney Dena King, who offers some crucial advice for parents and guardians. She emphasizes that parents need to have regular and open conversations with their children about internet safety and responsible online behavior. According to King, these dialogues shouldn’t be a one-time thing. In her words, “Just having that conversation one time is not going to be sufficient.”

Practices for Younger Kids

For younger children, it is advised to establish explicit rules about online activities and constantly monitor their online interactions. King suggests that parents should encourage their children to use their devices in common areas around the house and limit the usage time.

Risks on Gaming Platforms

The risk is not restricted to social media platforms but extends to seemingly harmless digital spaces like gaming apps. To counter these risks, King urges parents to learn about privacy settings and teach their children about the hazards of sharing personal information online.

Guarding Teenage Independence

As children enter their teens, they invariably gain more independence in online activities. With increasing digital freedom, King underscores the importance of teaching teenagers about setting boundaries, emphasizing the permanence of online content, risks associated with sharing personal details, and ways to verify the authenticity of online ‘friends.’

Identifying Signs of Distress

Parents and guardians are also advised to look out for changes in their kids’ behavior that may signal distress such as withdrawal, anger, or anxiety. King encourages parents to act promptly and seek help if any such behaviour is noticed.

Reporting Exploitation

If there’s any suspicion of online enticement or exploitation of a child, people should immediately alert the law enforcement or file a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or report.cybertip.org.