One in 10 UK parents say their child has been blackmailed online, NSPCC finds
Almost one in 10 parents say their child has been blackmailed online, while one in five (21 percent) know their child has been blackmailed with threats ranging from the publication of intimate images to details about their personal life.
Despite this, child protection charity NSPCC also found that two in five parents in the UK say they rarely or never talk to their children about the issue.
Reasons for not talking about online blackmail include 32 percent fearing their child will overreact and 25 percent citing their child’s reluctance to talk about sensitive topics.
In March, the National Crime Agency said British teenage boys were increasingly being blackmailed by Nigerian criminal gangs posing as young women, with online sexual blackmail on the rise.
Authorities have warned that criminals are targeting boys as young as 14 on Snapchat and Instagram, tricking them into sending sexually explicit images before demanding payments of around £100.
While most child sexual abuse victims are women, 90 percent of sexual blackmail victims are boys between the ages of 14 and 17.
In recent years, two young boys committed suicide after being blackmailed on the internet. Dinal De Alwis, 16, committed suicide in Sutton, south London, in October 2022 after being targeted by a man who threatened to send two nude photos to “all his followers”. 16-year-old Murray Downey died in 2023 after being the target of a sextortion scam on Instagram.
NSPCC research, which received responses from more than 2,500 parents, found that one in three parents feel tech companies and the government are not doing their duty to protect their children from online blackmail.
Parents thought charities and schools were doing much more to help prevent harm.
Speaking about the work tech companies are doing to protect children, one parent said: “They have no interest. As long as they get their money from marketing, that’s good enough for them.”
Rani Govender, policy director at the NSPCC, said: “These findings show the extent of online blackmail taking place across the country, but tech companies continue to fall short in their duty to protect children.
“With one in three parents saying tech companies and the government are failing to stop young people being blackmailed online, it’s clear that urgent action is needed. “Children deserve to be safe online and this must be built into the very fabric of these platforms, rather than being introduced after damage has already been done.
“As we push for systemic change, it’s crucial that parents are equipped to have these difficult conversations with their children. Knowing how to talk about online blackmail in an age-appropriate way and creating an environment where children feel safe without fear of judgment can make a big difference.”
If you are feeling distressed or struggling to cope, you can talk or email the Samaritans confidentially on 116 123 (UK and ROI). jo@samaritans.orgor visit Samaritans If you are a US resident and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call or text 988 or visit: 988lifeline.org To access online chat on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free and confidential crisis helpline that anyone can access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country you can go to: www.befrienders.org To find a helpline near you
