Expert urges parents: one conversation could stop sextortion of children

Digital law expert Emma Sadleir is urging parents to speak with their children about online safety, saying a single conversation could prevent victims of sextortion from becoming trapped in cycles of fear, shame and exploitation.

Rising cases of sextortion, blackmail and coercion

Sadleir, director of The Digital Law Company, said she has seen a worrying rise in cases involving sextortion, blackmail and online coercion of children. She warned parents not to delay discussing the dangers of sharing intimate images online and the importance of asking for help if a child becomes targeted by online predators.

Why parents must act now

According to Sadleir, many young victims keep silent because they fear punishment or disappointing their parents, which leaves them vulnerable to criminals who exploit that fear. She urged parents to start the conversation as soon as a child has a phone and is communicating online, especially on platforms such as Snapchat.

“There are so many cases locally involving extortion, sextortion, blackmail and coercion. Please, I am begging you, as soon as your child has a phone and is talking to anybody on the internet, especially if they are on Snapchat, have a conversation today about how, if your child is being extorted, they have to tell an adult.”

Practical steps Sadleir recommends

Sadleir suggested that families introduce what she calls a “golden ticket of immunity”: an agreement that a child can come forward without fear of blame if they are being blackmailed or extorted after sharing images.

She described the golden ticket this way: if a child is being told their life will be ruined unless they send more content, follow instructions, or send money, Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or betting vouchers to a perpetrator, the child should be able to report it with no questions asked so the adult can help.

Support and resources

Sadleir encouraged young people to seek help from a trusted adult and offered The Digital Law Company as a contact point. She said victims are welcome to direct message the organisation and that they can be guided to a blog on the company website containing tips about the sextortion scam.

“They are always welcome to DM us at The Digital Law Company. If we can help, we will direct them to my website, where there is a blog about the sextortion scam. Follow the tips on there.”

The human cost

Sadleir said the messages that affect her most come from terrified children who feel they have nowhere to turn. She shared one example of a plea she receives in the middle of the night:

“The very worst messages I get are from children in the middle of the night who say, ‘Ma’am, please help me. I can’t let my parents know about this. It’s an absolute disaster.’ Talk to your children today. Don’t put off the conversation.”

Perpetrators often manipulate children into sharing intimate images before demanding money or more explicit content and threaten to expose the material to family and friends if their demands are not met, the expert said.

Message to parents

Sadleir’s appeal emphasises creating a home environment where children know they can ask for help without fear of judgement, which she believes could prevent many young people from becoming victims of sextortion and related exploitation.