What is Online Child Sextortion? 

Online child sextortion is a form of blackmail where predators trick or pressure young people into sending private, explicit photos or videos. These predators then threaten to share the images unless the victim complies with their demands, including but not limited to secrecy, more explicit content, money, relationships, and in-person meetups. 

Why it’s so serious 

Sextortion is a form of exploitation and harassment, as well as a common grooming tactic or precursor to in-person trafficking. Victims are typically forced into isolation, and it often leads to deep feelings of shame, anxiety, and depression, including severe mental health crises. 

BY THE NUMBERS

Every year, there are an estimated 300 million victims of online child sextortion around the world. 

This is an exponentially growing number, as reports of online sextortion increased by nearly 156% from 2024 to 2025.

1 in 5 teens report experiencing sextortion, highlighting the urgent need for awareness.

Sources: Childlight National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Thorn

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