I (Dr. Anna Schrack) recently got a message from my sister who lives in Kentucky. She messaged my three sisters and me, telling us that there was a kid in her school district who had completed suicide because of artificial intelligence and bullies online. She wanted us to be aware and talk to the kids that we know about these new dangers. I never could have predicted the prevalence of AI sextortion.
Since that message from my sister, I have seen stories about four children who have altered their lives and the lives of those around them because of similar situations:
James Woods, age 17, from Ohio
Jordan DeMay, age 17, from Michigan
Eli Heacock, age 16, from Kentucky
Bradyn Bohn, 15, from Wisconsin
It is astonishing how quickly these blackmailers got into the minds of the teenagers. Some of these kids completed suicide within 24 hours or less of being threatened. This just points to how important it is to be proactive. You may not have enough time to be reactive and talk about the events as they are unfolding. The kids who are being targeted often don’t have mental health concerns; they are happy, resilient kids enjoying school and life. Please talk to your kids. I encourage every parent, every teacher, every aunt and uncle, and everyone who works with children in any capacity to talk to them about what to do when these situations arise. We don’t know who is going to be targeted. It can be anybody. Anyone can use AI to enhance or alter anyone’s pictures, posts or even voices. Predators are convincing, and children and teens, through no fault of their own, are easy to manipulate. They don’t want people to be disappointed with them, they don’t want to be made fun of. We need to get ahead of this before more children and teenagers take their lives.
In the evolving landscape of cybercrime, sextortion has emerged as a dangerous and deeply invasive threat, particularly for teenagers and children. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), this form of online blackmail has become even more sophisticated, making it easier for criminals to manipulate young victims. Our team of psychologists and therapists in Tampa have put together a blog that explores how AI is being misused in sextortion cases involving minors, the implications for online safety, and how parents and guardians can protect their children.
Understanding Sextortion Among Teens and Children
Sextortion is a form of blackmail where an individual is threatened with the exposure of intimate images, videos, or information unless they comply with the perpetrator’s demands. These demands often include money, additional explicit content, or personal favors. Teenagers and children are particularly vulnerable due to their frequent social media usage, curiosity, and lack of awareness about online threats.
Cybercriminals often target minors through platforms such as Halo, Instagram, Snapchat, and /or Discord, exploiting their trust and inexperience. AI has introduced new ways to exploit and manipulate young victims, making it easier for predators to carry out their schemes.
The Role of AI in Sextortion Targeting Teens and Children
AI technology has transformed the way criminals execute sextortion scams. Some key ways AI is being used include:
1. Deepfake Technology
Deepfake AI can create hyper-realistic fake images or videos by superimposing a child’s or teen’s face onto another’s body. Cybercriminals use this technology to generate explicit content of unsuspecting minors, which they then use as leverage in sextortion schemes.
2. AI-Powered Chatbots
Scammers use AI-driven chatbots to engage with minors on social media and gaming platforms. These chatbots can convincingly simulate human conversation, tricking children into sharing compromising images or videos under false pretenses.
3. Voice Cloning
AI-based voice cloning technology enables criminals to imitate a child’s voice with alarming accuracy. This can be used to create fake audio recordings for blackmail or to manipulate other children into inappropriate interactions.
4. Automated Phishing Scams
AI helps hackers craft highly personalized phishing emails and messages that trick teens into sharing private information or clicking malicious links, leading to the theft of explicit content or account takeovers.
The Impact of AI-Driven Sextortion on Young Victims
The consequences of AI-enabled sextortion are devastating, especially for children and teenagers. Some of the major impacts include:
- Psychological Distress: Young victims often experience anxiety, depression, shame, and fear, sometimes leading to self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
- Manipulation and Grooming: Criminals use AI to impersonate peers or trusted individuals, increasing the likelihood of victimization.
- Reputation Damage: AI-generated deepfakes can tarnish a young person’s reputation, leading to bullying, harassment, and long-term social consequences.
- Parental and Legal Challenges: Families often struggle to address these situations, and minors may face legal or social repercussions if explicit content—real or fake—is widely circulated.
How to Protect Teens and Children from AI-Driven Sextortion
While AI-driven sextortion is a growing threat, there are proactive steps parents, guardians, and educators can take to safeguard young individuals:
1. Educate About Online Safety
Teach children about the risks of sextortion, how AI can be misused, and the importance of not sharing personal or explicit content online.
2. Monitor Online Activities
Encourage open communication and monitor children’s interactions on social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps.
3. Use AI-Detection Tools
There are emerging AI detection tools that help identify deepfakes and manipulated media. Parents can use these tools to verify the authenticity of suspicious content. You can find these tools in the App Store on your iPhone.
4. Enable Strong Privacy Settings
Adjust privacy settings on all online accounts to limit access to personal information and prevent interactions with strangers.
5. Encourage Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA adds an extra layer of security to online accounts, making it harder for hackers to gain unauthorized access.
6. Report and Seek Help
If a child becomes a target, report the incident to law enforcement, social media platforms, and cybercrime helplines. Organizations such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) provide resources and support for victims.
The Future of AI and Child Online Safety
As AI technology advances, so do the methods used by cybercriminals. However, AI can also be harnessed for good—security firms and tech companies are developing AI-driven solutions to detect and prevent sextortion scams targeting minors. Awareness, education, and vigilance remain the best defenses against these threats.
By staying informed and fostering open conversations about online safety, we can protect children and teenagers from the dark side of AI while empowering them to navigate the digital world securely. The battle against AI-powered cybercrime is ongoing, but with the right knowledge and tools, we can minimize its impact and safeguard our children’s digital lives.
If you are concerned your child might be at risk or are looking for the right way to open up a conversation about this with your family, please don’t hesitate to contact our team today.
