Child Focus launchs 'Payboy' platform to empower young people against online extortion
To mark the European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse on 18 November, Child Focus is launching Payboy in response to a sharp rise in cases of sexual extortion, or "sextortion", targeting young people. Since the start of this year, the organisation has opened 350 cases, a 130 per cent increase compared with last year. Sextortion typically involves young people being pressured online to share intimate images and then blackmailed to keep those images offline.
Boys are predominant target
Sextortion combines the words “sex” and “extortion.” Victims often believe they have befriended someone online, only to be manipulated into sending intimate photos or videos. The perpetrators then threaten to distribute the material unless more content or money is provided. In most cases, these offenders are organised criminal gangs, and they predominantly target boys.
"I received a friend request and we started chatting," reports a 15 year old victim of sextortion. "To test if she was 'real,' I asked her to raise her right hand. She did. So I was certain she was ' real' and therefore looking for the same thing… But then she threatened to share the recorded video with all my Facebook friends. In exchange for the video, she, or he, demanded money."
Financial sextortion is the only form of sexual exploitation for which Child Focus opens more files for boys (93 per cent) than for girls. The organisation fears that the real number of victims is significantly higher, as boys are even less likely to seek help.
Encouraging victims to seek help
"Young people who are victims of sextortion tend to isolate themselves when it happens to them, out of shame or fear of the consequences or the possible reactions of those close to them. But it can happen to anyone, and it's crucial to talk about it and seek help," says CEO Child Focus, Nel Broothaerts.
The platform offers short, visual and interactive content such as videos, testimonials and practical prevention tips designed to show young people how sextortion schemes operate and how they can stay safe online. A teaser video on social media will draw attention to the campaign, with a particular focus on boys, who are statistically more at risk.
Child Focus advises victims of sextortion not to pay, to take screenshots of conversations, to stop all communication with the blackmailer and to speak to a trusted adult. As sextortion is a criminal offence, it can be reported to both the police and Child Focus.
Victims and their loved ones can always contact Child Focus via the toll-free number 116 000, available 24/7.
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