If you really think that they would never talk to you about this, then please point them to Thorn. This organization is a fabulous resource for kids and even has confidential counselors that will talk kids through it. Their website says:
Text ‘THORN’ to 741741 and immediately speak with a trained Crisis Text Line counselor. Here’s how it works. Tell someone. A close friend, teacher, counselor, or parent. Sextortion sucks, and people going through it are usually pretty scared to tell their friends. Today, right now, tell your closest friends if this ever happens to them, you’ll be there, you won’t judge, you have their back!
Thorn also offers other tips on how to act if you become the victim of sextortion, including:
- If you’re asked to share something that makes you uncomfortable, you have a right to say no, even if you already shared something with them before.
- Tips on reporting sextortion into tech companies to have images images removed, especially if you are under 18.
- Never forwarding anyone else’s pics
- How to help a friend who is going through sextortion
Are you hearing me, parents?? This is a thing and it’s our responsibility to let our kids know about it so they can be fully informed before they decide whether or not to send that pic.
For more about stopping this terrible phenomenon, please, please, please visit wearethorn.org/stopsextortion.
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