Sextortion is a form of online sexual exploitation involving threats to expose sexual images if demands are not met.
This complex crime is centered around control and coercion. It can trigger devastating, life-altering consequences that significantly harm victims mentally, emotionally, and physically.
The National Children’s Alliance recently authored a report on this issue and its consequences. The research conducted by the University of New Hampshire’s Crimes against Children Research Center (CCRC) and Thorn involved more than 1,600 young people recruited through Facebook ads to complete anonymous surveys.
Nearly half of the respondents in the report were under the age of 18 when the sextortion happened, and the remainder were aged 18 to 25. The targets were mostly women—men accounted for about 15% of the respondents.
Here are some key takeaways from the report:
- Just one in four youth experiencing sextortion sought medical or mental health care.
- One in eight youths had to move as a result of the abuse.
- 45% of youth were unable to confide in friends or family about the experience out of feelings of fear, shame, or embarrassment.
- Only one in five individuals reported the incident or sought assistance. Of those who did, 40% said the responses they received weren’t helpful.
How does sextortion happen?
According to the FBI, perpetrators have studied how to reach children and teens. In 2023, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a national public safety alert in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Included were some alarming facts: in 2022, law enforcement agencies received 7,000 reports related to the online sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys. More than a dozen sextortion victims were reported to have died by suicide.
Research from the CCRC revealed just how serious and diverse the dynamics of sextortion are. They found that abuse seems to occur in one of two broader contexts:
- Sexual images are taken or shared in a romantic or sexual relationship. Then, an aggrieved partner threatens to distribute the images either in an attempt to force reconciliation or to punish or inflict pain on a former partner.
- Perpetrators meet a target online and use a sexual image to demand more content or sexual interactions.
Perpetrators are often adults pretending to be teenagers. They use a variety of unique tactics and strategies to exploit victims, but the stages of sextortion are similar from case to case:
- The perpetrator uses deceptive tactics to acquire sensitive material. They may deceive the victim into sharing intimate images or videos, implement hacking techniques to access private content or manipulate the victim to grant access to their content unknowingly.
- The perpetrator then threatens to share the private content either with the victim’s contacts or publicly on the internet unless specific demands are met—like financial payment or providing more explicit images or videos.
- The perpetrator coerces the victim to comply with their demands through attempts to induce fear and exert control over them.
For some of the participants in the survey, the sextortion resolved relatively quickly. However, about a third of victims reported being threatened daily, and for 22% of respondents, the threats continued beyond six months.
The abuse included exposure of sexual images, as well as threatening behaviors like stocking, assaults, financial blackmail, and hacking into accounts. The perpetrators carried out their threats in about 45% of cases.
The impact of sextortion on victims
The psychological, emotional, and physical toll sextortion inflicts on victims can be severe. The fear and stress of public humiliation and violation of privacy can lead to a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Victims are forced into a state of constant fear, anxiety, and emotional distress. Many also experience feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame. In the most devastating cases, the unbearable burden drives some individuals to self-harm or to contemplate suicide.
All of these factors can also manifest in physical distress. Many victims report experiencing insomnia, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular issues, and substance abuse disorders.
The abuse can also inflict damaging effects on the victims’ relationships. Fear of judgment and paranoia of the potential exposure of private images can lead victims to isolate themselves and withdraw from friends, family, and social activities. The cycle of loneliness only adds to their emotional burden.
Victims may also experience professional and academic repercussions related to the stress and anxiety impairing their performance and concentration. If images are made public, they may face public scrutiny or tarnishing of their reputation.
Victims may also be vulnerable to developing trauma bonding with their abuser, which is an attachment that develops from a cycle of trauma followed by positive reinforcement.
Preventing sextortion
The first step is to prevent sextortion before it happens. Educating individuals about the risks and how to protect themselves is key, as well as building a supportive community and access to information and resources.
Healthy Children, an organization founded by the American Academy of Pediatrics, urges parents and caregivers to engage in their children’s lives to help prevent sextortion.
Teaching them to practice safe behavior online is crucial, including the following:
- Never send compromising images of yourself to anyone, no matter who they are or what they say.
- Use strong and unique passwords online.
- Don’t open suspicious attachments or click on links, emails, or messages from someone you don’t know.
- Be aware of the tactics perpetrators use.
- Report suspicious activities.
- Turn off your electronic devices and web cameras when not being used.
- Don’t accept friend or follow requests online from anyone you don’t know in real life.
- Don’t provide any identifying personal information if someone asks, and tell a trusted adult immediately.
In the event of sextortion, the following immediate actions can be taken:
- No matter the threat, don’t respond to the blackmailer’s initial contact or comply with their demands. Engaging only encourages them, and not reacting can help reduce the likelihood of the threat being carried out.
- Seek support from trusted individuals and organizations so they can provide guidance on next steps.
- Report the crime to local law enforcement and to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or reporting it online at tips.fbi.gov.
- Preserve evidence and store it in a secure place. Don’t delete any conversations, emails, or files shared during the interaction. These will be critical if legal action is pursued.
- Seek support and lean on trusted family and friends.
- Also, seek professional assistance from counselors and therapists.
- You may also consider legal support.
- Take steps to protect your digital identity, including changing or strengthening passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and staying informed about cyber threats and best practices.
Responding to sextortion and supporting victims
Trauma-informed care is key to helping victims heal. Victims recovering from sextortion may need long-term recovery and support networks to address their trauma and help rebuild their sense of trust, safety, and self-worth.
Communities can help foster an environment of empathy and respect for victims, allowing them to feel safe reporting instances of abuse and confidence they’ll receive the help they need.
A sobering conclusion from the CCRC study is the researchers’ observed lack of responsiveness to the needs of child victims. Many victims felt they had nowhere to turn to help or that they only faced obstacles when they did reach out.
Researchers urged faster and more effective responses from technology companies, organizations, and individuals and better guidance for victims.
The National Children’s Alliance also calls for increased education and for that information to be more accessible.
Together, we can work to reduce the occurrence of this devastating issue and provide more help for those who have been affected.
Spread awareness about sextortion through open dialogue with children and actively monitor their online activities. Provide education and access to information. The most powerful defense is clear awareness and support.
If you are a victim of extortion, remember that recovery takes time. Be patient with yourself. Practice self-compassion, as well as healthy ways to cope with stress and anxiety. You may also wish to seek support groups in your local area.
The road to recovery from extortion is different for every person, but you can take steps to reclaim control of your life and well-being. Remember, no matter how overwhelming it may seem, recovery is possible, and you deserve to feel safe and whole.
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