It is no secret that the internet is a minefield for Z generation. However, recently, a worrying trend has focused on young boys, a group that is often overlooked in discussions about online safety.
Financial sextortion is when someone threatens to release sensitive and private information for money or other payments. Often, the information includes personal photos or messages that were shared confidentially. It is now on the rise. Just a few years ago, discussions around such threats primarily centered on teenage girls. But times have changed. Data analysis reveals a significant upward trend in monthly cases, with boys aged 8 to 17 increasingly becoming targets.
Predators engage youth victims through common interests on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. They often act as charming girls slightly younger than their targets. The conversation is innocent at first, often in shared passions like gaming. Quickly, however, it leads to a more private setting where personal and compromising information is requested. Then if you don't send money, your private pictures will be publicized.
It is a global crisis and is not limited to local. With organized crime rings, these schemes are orchestrated. Such dangers are a coordinated effort that makes the digital world even more daunting.
The internet lacks the safeguards to protect teens. Schools teach students about nutritional food value and exercise, but where is the curriculum on digital safety? Teenagers are often told to be wary of strangers online, but the reality is more complex. When teens are in their most comfortable spaces, through games, social media, and private messages, they are the targets of those skilled predators.
