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Sextortion: What Parents Need to Know and How to Protect Their Kids

It may start with something that feels harmless: a message from someone who seems like a peer, asking for a photo. But what comes next is anything but innocent.

This is sextortion, a fast-growing online crime where scammers trick or pressure teens into sharing explicit images, then threaten to release those images unless more photos or money are sent.

The Scope of the Problem

The numbers tell a stark story:

These numbers highlight a painful reality: sextortion is not rare, and it can happen to any child.

How Sextortion Works

Scammers typically:

  • Create fake accounts on Instagram, Snapchat, or gaming platforms.
  • Pose as a teen or young adult to build quick trust.
  • Move conversations to private channels, where they request intimate photos or videos.
  • Once they have material, they issue threats: “Send more, or we’ll share this with your family and friends.”

This cycle can escalate quickly, leaving teens feeling trapped, ashamed, and terrified to tell anyone.

What Parents Can Do

As parents, the most important role you can play is being a safe, trusted place for your child to turn. Here are six steps that help:

1. Listen

Why it matters: Your calm response is the single most important thing. If a child thinks they’ll be blamed or punished, they’re less likely to tell you and that silence gives scammers power.
How to do it (concrete steps):

  • Sit down somewhere private and say: “Thank you for telling me. You did the right thing.”
  • Let them tell the story without interruption. Use phrases like: “I’m here. We’ll handle this together.”
  • Avoid immediate lectures or punishment. Focus first on safety and support, then move to problem solving.
  • If emotions escalate, pause and come back after a few minutes so you both feel safe to continue.

2. Block

Why it matters: Cutting off contact prevents further pressure and reduces the scammer’s access.
How to do it (concrete steps):

  • Capture evidence first (see “Save”) then block. Don’t give the scammer time to react.
  • Use the app’s block feature (profile menu → Block). If unknown accounts are messaging, use privacy settings to limit DMs to friends/followers only.
  • If messages come from multiple accounts, block each and adjust privacy so new accounts can’t message easily (restrict DMs, make account private).
  • Consider temporarily removing the child from group chats or friend lists that may include the scammer.

3. Report

Why it matters: Platforms can remove accounts and, when combined with police reports, help investigators stop the perpetrator.
How to do it (concrete steps):

  • Report the specific message/profile within the app immediately (usually via the three-dot menu or “Report” button). Use the option for sexual exploitation or harassment if available.
  • If the scam involvesa minor or continues with threats, file a report with local law enforcement and the FBI’s IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) or your country’s equivalent.
  • Report to child-specific hotlines if available (e.g., NCMEC CyberTipline in the U.S.).
  • Keep a record of report confirmation numbers and the date/time you filed them.

4. Save

Why it matters: Screenshots and records are evidence that help platforms and law enforcement act.
How to do it (concrete steps):

  • Take screenshots of the entire conversation, and include usernames, timestamps, and profile pages. Capture any threats, payment requests, or identifying info.
  • Do not edit or crop images that might remove metadata. If the app hides timestamps, take multiple screenshots that show context.
  • Export or download attachments if the platform allows it. Save them to a secure folder (not on the child’s device if the scammer might see them).
  • Note the device, date/time, and any IP/location clues (if available). Record the child’s recollection of how the conversation started.

5. Reassure

Why it matters: Shame and silence are the scammer’s tools. Reassurance prevents isolation and promotes healing.
How to do it (concrete steps):

  • Use empathetic language: “This is not your fault. Scammers are very good at tricking people.”
  • Normalize support: share that many teens are targeted and that adults will handle the rest.
  • Discuss next steps so the child feels safe and involved: “We’ll save the messages, block the account, and report it. You’re not alone.”
  • If the child shows signs of severe distress, contact a mental health professional or crisis line immediately.

6. Protect

Why it matters: Prevention, both behavioral and technical, reduces the chance this happens again.
How to do it (concrete steps):

  • Create a family plan for digital incidents: who to call, where to save evidence, and when to involve law enforcement or a counselor.
  • Review privacy settings together: make accounts private, limit who can message or view stories, and remove unknown contacts.
  • Teach rules of thumb: never send intimate images, verify friend requests in person, and pause before sharing private content. Role-play common scenarios so your teen knows how to respond.
  • Consider device-level controls: enable parental controls for app downloads, set screen-time rules, and review app permissions. Balance privacy with respect and explain why you’re taking these steps.
  • Add monitoring and protection tools: use services that scan for risky behavior, scam signals, or leaked images (like OneHaven-style monitoring) and set up alerts for suspicious activity.

The Bigger Picture

You can’t control every text or message your child receives. But you can prepare them with open conversations, strong support, and tools that reduce risk.

Talking about sextortion may feel uncomfortable, but silence is what allows scammers to thrive. By staying informed and connected, parents can protect kids from falling deeper into these schemes.

OneHaven is here to help families navigate these modern threats with real visibility and real protection.
Join the waitlist today and be the first to access OneHaven when it launches.

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