Sextortion is when someone threatens to share sexual images of a young person unless they send more images, money or something else. It is one of the fastest-growing online harms facing teenagers, and it can escalate from a first message to threats within hours. Schools and parents who understand how it works can spot it early and respond in a way that helps rather than shames.
How sextortion happens
It usually starts with a friendly message on social media or a gaming app, often from someone pretending to be a teenager. The conversation turns flirtatious, the other person sends an image, which is often fake, and asks for one back. Once they have an image, the threats begin: pay, or send more, or it goes to your friends, family and school.
Offenders do not always need a real image. In Thorn’s research, 11% of sextortion cases with available information involved threats using fake or AI-generated imagery, created from ordinary photos a young person had posted.
Who is targeted
Anyone can be targeted, but financially motivated sextortion falls mostly on teenage boys. Thorn’s analysis of reports to the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children between August 2022 and August 2023 found about 812 sextortion reports a week, most involving demands for money, and over 90% of financial sextortion reports involved teenage boys. Girls are more often pressured for further images. Many offenders are organised groups operating from overseas.
Warning signs
- Sudden distress, fear or anger after using their phone
- Withdrawing from friends, family or activities they used to enjoy
- Asking for money, or unexplained money transfers or gift card purchases
- Deleting social media accounts or being secretive about new contacts
- Talking about feeling trapped, ashamed or that they have ruined their life
If a young person talks about harming themselves, treat it as urgent and get help straight away.
What to tell young people
- It is not your fault. The person threatening you is committing a crime.
- Do not pay or send anything more. Paying rarely ends the threats and often leads to more demands.
- Stop replying, but keep the evidence. Screenshot the messages, usernames and profile before blocking.
- Tell an adult you trust. Parents and teachers will help, and you will not be in trouble.
- Get the images removed. Take It Down helps remove nude or sexual images taken before age 18. The image never leaves your device; only a digital fingerprint is shared with platforms.
What schools should do
- Teach sextortion explicitly in online safety lessons from lower secondary, including AI-generated images
- Make sure every member of staff knows a sextortion disclosure is a child protection concern and goes to the designated safeguarding lead the same day
- Never view, copy or forward the images, even to gather evidence
- Support the young person without blame, and involve parents and the police where appropriate
- Share clear guidance with parents so they know how to respond calmly if their child comes to them
Where to get help
- Vietnam: National Child Protection Hotline 111, free and available 24 hours
- Image removal: Take It Down
- Reporting images online: Internet Watch Foundation
- Immediate danger: contact the police
For more on how grooming and sextortion connect, see our guide to online grooming prevention. If you would like staff or parent training on sextortion and online safety, see our training or get in touch.
