Sextortion is when someone manipulates someone until they trust them enough to send a sexual picture or video, then that person threatens to release the sexual content if the person does not meet their demands.
Sextortion can happen to anyone of any age, but with increasing access to the internet, young people are at increasing risk.
Sextortion can have an effect on a child or teen’s mental health, social lives, self-esteem, and more. Some young people have died by suicide after being sextorted. It is very important that you talk to your child about sextortion and make sure they know they can come to you about it without getting in trouble so that they can get help if it happens to them.