Every day, nearly 100 children become victims of online sextortion. It’s a staggering reality, and according to experts at The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, it’s impacting children right here in Amarillo. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported nearly 100 cases of financial sextortion every day in 2024—numbers that authorities say are continuing to rise.
Sextortion is a form of digital blackmail that overwhelmingly targets children and teens. Predators first obtain intimate images—sometimes by pretending to be a peer, sometimes by hacking, and sometimes through fake profiles designed to win trust. Once they have material, they threaten to share it publicly unless the child pays money or provides additional images.
As Courtney Ma from The Bridge explains, predators often use fear to trap kids: “And then this kid sends those pictures and videos, and now that person is telling them I’m going to post these on Instagram or send this to your family if you don’t send me $1,000.”
This fear is exactly what predators rely on to keep their victims silent.
Why Teen Boys Are Most at Risk
Although any child can be targeted, the most common victims are teen boys. They are often drawn in by what appears to be a peer showing romantic or sexual interest. In reality, the person behind the screen may be a criminal thousands of miles away.
As Ma explains, predators exploit shame: “They’re taking advantage of the fact that this boy’s going to feel shame and not know what to do now that he sent this picture, now that he sent this video.”
Shame keeps victims from reaching out for help, allowing the cycle of threats and fear to continue. Breaking this silence is critical.
How Parents Can Reduce the Risk
While no safety strategy is perfect, open communication is one of the strongest defenses.
Parents should regularly talk with their kids about online interactions—what’s safe, what’s risky, and why strangers online should never be trusted. Teens often assume their conversations are private, or that messages disappear. But as Sarahbeth Cook from The Bridge points out, that assumption can be dangerous.
“You may think you trust a person, and in reality it’s easy to take a screenshot and send that to other people. That image might spread around school. It might be sent to your parents. It might be in the hands of people you don’t even know,” Cook said.
She also noted that kids are often surprised by the permanence of digital communication: even a text message can be saved, copied, or shared without their knowledge. Cook added that The Bridge has already heard rumors circulating in local schools about these situations happening.
Help Is Available — Kids Don’t Have to Face This Alone
If a child becomes a victim of sextortion, it’s crucial they know that help exists, and they are not in trouble.
Ma explains that victims can go directly to NCMEC: “If you are a child or a teenager and this has happened to you, you can go to NCMEC and make a report yourself. And they want to find you help. They want to get you help, and they want to help you see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. They will help you take that picture down. They will monitor it so that if it pops up anywhere else it will be taken down.”
Locally, The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center provides a safe place for children to tell their stories, receive support, and begin healing. Their mission is to empower children and guide them toward justice and recovery.
What Kids Need to Hear
If you’re a parent or caregiver, here are messages your child needs to hear clearly and often:
You can always come to me, no matter what you’ve done or what someone is threatening.
If someone pressures you for photos, that is a red flag — tell an adult immediately.
Nothing online disappears. Protecting your privacy is protecting your future.
You are never alone, and there is help available.
The more trusted adults talk openly about sextortion, the less power predators have.
A Community Effort
Sextortion thrives in silence, secrecy, and shame. By educating ourselves, talking openly with our kids, and sharing information with other families, we can break that cycle. The threat is real, but so is the support.
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