UK Parents Alarmed as 1 in 10 Kids Targeted by Online Blackmail
A worrying trend has emerged in the UK, with nearly one in 10 parents admitting that their child has been blackmailed online. The shocking figure comes from a survey of over 2,500 parents conducted by the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) charity.
The NSPCC's findings reveal that children are being targeted in various ways, including being forced to send intimate pictures or videos, and having their personal details shared without consent. The organization defines online blackmail as threatening to release sensitive information, such as an image or video that a child wants to keep private.
The survey also found that one in five parents know someone who has experienced online blackmail, while two in five said they rarely or never discuss the topic with their children. However, experts stress that it's essential for parents and carers to have open conversations about online safety and recognize the signs of bullying.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) reports over 110 cases of child sextortion attempts every month, where teenagers are tricked into sending intimate images before being blackmailed. In some cases, these incidents have led to tragic consequences, including two young men, aged 16, taking their own lives after being targeted online.
Tech companies are under fire for failing to provide adequate protection for children, according to the NSPCC's policy manager, Rani Govender. "Children deserve to be safe online, and that must be built into the very fabric of these platforms, not bolted on after harm has already been done."
To combat this issue, experts advise parents and carers to have regular conversations with their children about online safety, creating a space where they feel comfortable discussing any concerns. They also recommend avoiding "sharenting" – sharing personal details about children online without consent.
The NSPCC's research highlights the importance of parents being aware of who their child is talking to online and recognizing potential signs of bullying. By taking proactive steps to educate themselves and their children, they can help prevent these tragic incidents from happening.
A worrying trend has emerged in the UK, with nearly one in 10 parents admitting that their child has been blackmailed online. The shocking figure comes from a survey of over 2,500 parents conducted by the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) charity.
The NSPCC's findings reveal that children are being targeted in various ways, including being forced to send intimate pictures or videos, and having their personal details shared without consent. The organization defines online blackmail as threatening to release sensitive information, such as an image or video that a child wants to keep private.
The survey also found that one in five parents know someone who has experienced online blackmail, while two in five said they rarely or never discuss the topic with their children. However, experts stress that it's essential for parents and carers to have open conversations about online safety and recognize the signs of bullying.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) reports over 110 cases of child sextortion attempts every month, where teenagers are tricked into sending intimate images before being blackmailed. In some cases, these incidents have led to tragic consequences, including two young men, aged 16, taking their own lives after being targeted online.
Tech companies are under fire for failing to provide adequate protection for children, according to the NSPCC's policy manager, Rani Govender. "Children deserve to be safe online, and that must be built into the very fabric of these platforms, not bolted on after harm has already been done."
To combat this issue, experts advise parents and carers to have regular conversations with their children about online safety, creating a space where they feel comfortable discussing any concerns. They also recommend avoiding "sharenting" – sharing personal details about children online without consent.
The NSPCC's research highlights the importance of parents being aware of who their child is talking to online and recognizing potential signs of bullying. By taking proactive steps to educate themselves and their children, they can help prevent these tragic incidents from happening.
like what even is wrong with ppl?! 1 in 10 kids r being blackmailed online & its not just about sending pics or vids its about having ur personal details shared without consent 
thats like a nightmare come true.
. My fave company Samsung did do somethin bout this tho they have this app that warns kids when someone is tryna blackmail them online & its so cool 
.
we cant just ignore this issue & hope it goes away. My mom always says be careful what u post online 'cause u never no who's seein it 
. We gotta educate ourselves & our kiddos on how 2 stay safe online.
like 110 cases of child sextortion every month thats crazy! 
.
The fact that two 16-yr-olds took their own lives over this is just heartbreaking 
.
. We need to educate ourselves and our kids, and make sure that online safety is taken seriously by all parties involved 
.
like whats wrong with just having an open convo about it all the time? and btw, tech companies need to step up their game if they wanna keep our kiddos safe 
... but at the same time, some parents aren't even having "the talk" with their kids about online safety? That's kinda worrying too 
... and what if they think it's none of their business or something? 
I mean, I've had my own share of online drama as a teenager, but back then it was more about cyberbullying than blackmailed sext pics 
. No more "bolted on" protection, we need it built-in from the start 
. Like, come on! We gotta create a space where kids feel comfy talking about this stuff 
.
. Can't let these young lives be lost over some stupid sext pics or online drama 
. We gotta take control and make our own rules (not tech companies' 
... think about it, a kid's online presence is basically a permanent record of their life. It's like they're leaving footprints on the digital highway that others can follow. And once those records are out there, they're hard to erase. What does that say about our society? Are we just creating more opportunities for predators to lurk in the shadows and wait for their prey?
. But at the same time, experts say that having open conversations about online safety is key to preventing these incidents. It's all about finding that balance and being proactive.
. If we can teach them how to be safe online from the start, maybe we can prevent some of these tragic incidents from happening. It's a big responsibility, but I think it's one that parents and carers need to take seriously 
. They're like, "Oh, we've got safety features, don't worry!" No, you've got safety features that are only available for paying customers 
parents need to be more open with their kids about online stuff too 
. What's even more concerning is that a lot of parents are clueless about how to deal with it and aren't even having open conversations with their kids about online safety 
. We can't keep relying on our kids to be "online savvy" without some serious protection from the devs 
!
. I'm sure all those "tragic consequences" are just, you know, totally unrelated to the lack of parental guidance 
.
. And yeah, I get why parents are worried now, but we gotta take responsibility too, right? Like, if you're sharing intimate pics or vids with your BFFs, don't be surprised when they decide to share them with their aunties 
. But seriously, this is super serious stuff - those 16-year-olds who took their own lives after being blackmailed online... no, that's not funny 
... just kidding, there's no laugh track for this one 
. My niece is 12 now, I'm gonna have to start having some serious talks with her about online safety and boundaries... it's not something I want to leave to chance 
.
i feel so sorry for the parents who have to deal with this, it must be super stressful and terrifying not knowing if your kid is gonna get targeted next 
they're just sitting there collecting all our data and profiting off of us, and then when something goes wrong they're like "oh no, we didn't do anything wrong" 
those two in five parents who never discuss this with their kids are like, what r u even doing? 
and can't stress enough how important it is to recognize the signs of bullying and take action quickly