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Original poster

“Paedophile hunters”

239 replies

Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 20:32

I remember quite a few years ago now, these paedophile hunter’s started appearing on social media. Videos of them meeting people who had been talking to what they believed were underage children. I remember thinking , oh wow they’re out there protecting our children. Maybe a naive view , I don’t know.

But now , more and more , I see it becoming a regular thing and I am seeing time and time again that the so called predators they catch ( not all the time, there are times that they are grown adults knowing what they’re doing ) are very clearly people with additional needs / autism. I find it disturbing to watch - I have seen young adults panicking and not really knowing what they’re doing or the implications . It’s clear that the messages in the videos I have seen are between the “ culprit” and an ‘underage child’ discussing meeting up , when yes they have been clear they are underage but it is also clear that it has not been sexual talk and these people are not understanding that what they are doing is wrong.

I remember years ago my sister and her friend talking to a lad of around 19. My sister and her friend were chatting and asking if the lad liked the friend and he was inviting them around to his house for a sleepover and to watch movies. ( my sister told my mom as she was worried ) I went through all the messages and could see it was not sexual . This lad thought they were friends . I looked at his profile and he was clearly autistic and his emotional and mental age was probably the same as my sister and her friend. I spoke to his mother who was so thankful that I messaged and confirmed he was quite severely autistic.

My son is autistic and always been drawn to girls as friends rather than boys . He also always gets on with those younger because he is on their level more. He wouldn’t even know how to talk sexually - he’s got a very limited understanding. I can’t stop him having a phone , he’s now 18 . Luckily I’m very aware and have spoken to him about this and keep tabs on him but it’s very hard. This kind of thing really worries me.

It makes me think whether these groups are doing more harm than good. They’re outing people publicly , and for those who are vulnerable with no understanding then it could do so much harm. I get that parents should be monitoring phone use but quite frankly not all parents do.

I do also wonder - can charges be made if there is no ‘real’ victim - it’s an adult they’re talking to … I guess it could get the culprits investigated more and maybe find out more things but other than that is it not just vigilante behaviour? And also , is their real good intention there from all of them or is it a case of getting social media famous ? Could it even be that they target those who they can see are more vulnerable as it will be an easy ‘catch’ ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 22:25

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 28/05/2025 22:24

They were confronted by a paedophile?? So they were a victim?

Show quote history

Sorry no I meant a paedophile hunter , I mistyped

OP posts:
Kibble19 · 28/05/2025 22:25

shoelady2 · 28/05/2025 22:18

What about their families? Is it right that their identity and in some cases, address should be plastered all over Facebook because their dad/uncle/older brother whatever has done this?

Show quote history

I think the “what about the family?” issue should be directed at the paedophile who put them in that situation when they chose to pursue children. The family always gets harassed whether the news breaks on Facebook live or in the newspaper. That’s the doing of the paedophile to put them in that position.

Original poster
Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 22:25

Kibble19 · 28/05/2025 22:22

I don’t think I’ve seen any video where someone is being snared by them because they had platonic friendly chat, even with someone young. It’s always more than that, in my experience.

Show quote history

I have seen a video just like this. The whole chats were there . The predators implied grooming and questioned why this person had invited the child to watch a child’s film at the cinema. When clearly this person was emotionally and mentally younger

OP posts:
YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 28/05/2025 22:24

Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 22:22

JUST TO CLARIFY

I have no concerns about my son. When I said “ it worries me” I meant for people similar to my son ( autistic , younger emotionally ) who aren’t monitored or educated .

I also do not mean that an autistic person sending inappropriate and sexual messages may be innocent - if they are sending sexual messages , they have that understanding of sex then I believe they are also capable of knowing that it is wrong with an underage person. To have that level of understanding of sex and to have the capacity to send sexual messages and arrange to meet , along with being told the age of the person they are talking to … that shows understanding. I’m absolutely not saying that if you’re autistic you can’t be a paedophile.

I am referring to - and a particular video I have recently seen - where it’s the case of meeting up with someone younger with no intention other than being friends and not understanding that it’s inappropriate to make a friend who is a child when you are an adult- then being confronted by a paedophile. I hope that clears up any confusion around the intention of the post.

They were confronted by a paedophile?? So they were a victim?

Kibble19 · 28/05/2025 22:22

Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 22:17

No one is convicting them of that , no, but they are being traumatised by paedophile hunters. Regardless of it all being sorted and found that nothing untoward has been done - the damage to that individual has been done.

Show quote history

I don’t think I’ve seen any video where someone is being snared by them because they had platonic friendly chat, even with someone young. It’s always more than that, in my experience.

Original poster
Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 22:22

JUST TO CLARIFY

I have no concerns about my son. When I said “ it worries me” I meant for people similar to my son ( autistic , younger emotionally ) who aren’t monitored or educated .

I also do not mean that an autistic person sending inappropriate and sexual messages may be innocent - if they are sending sexual messages , they have that understanding of sex then I believe they are also capable of knowing that it is wrong with an underage person. To have that level of understanding of sex and to have the capacity to send sexual messages and arrange to meet , along with being told the age of the person they are talking to … that shows understanding. I’m absolutely not saying that if you’re autistic you can’t be a paedophile.

I am referring to - and a particular video I have recently seen - where it’s the case of meeting up with someone younger with no intention other than being friends and not understanding that it’s inappropriate to make a friend who is a child when you are an adult- then being confronted by a paedophile. I hope that clears up any confusion around the intention of the post.

OP posts:
Shatandfattered · 28/05/2025 22:20

They're all fucking muppets and I say that as a mother who has been SAd... The neurodivergent "predators" most likely end up in these scenarios because senseless clowns like this would never have made friends with someone with autism or try to understand and be kind, so they seek friendship or partnership with people of the same maturity... However it's down to parents or social services to deliver moral, sexual and lawful behaviour because there cannot be a grey area of acceptability. If people don't have capacity to live by those rules then social media shouldn't be readily available and public outings should be with support for their own benefit to prevent these situations or worse

shoelady2 · 28/05/2025 22:18

Kibble19 · 28/05/2025 22:12

Can’t be arsed with the “he has (insert condition) so this isn’t fair” idea.

Ultimately, the diagnosis doesn’t matter - it’s the person’s functioning that does. If they’re capable of sending inappropriate content to kids, let them rot. Nobody’s convicting anyone of forming a friendship because they don’t understand social norms, but people who are predatory towards kids deserve what they get, no exceptions.

What about their families? Is it right that their identity and in some cases, address should be plastered all over Facebook because their dad/uncle/older brother whatever has done this?

UsernameMcUsername · 28/05/2025 22:17

helpmepleasewiththis · 28/05/2025 22:11

I work in this area and I see many victims and perpetrators are in the main neurodivergent. It’s really hard to get them to understand appropriate behaviour and boundaries. Parents need to have the conversations early on so that they understand that the rules are there to protect them. But it’s really concerning how common this is.

It really is. It's such a hard subject to talk about, but it's a massive issue.

Original poster
Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 22:17

Kibble19 · 28/05/2025 22:12

Can’t be arsed with the “he has (insert condition) so this isn’t fair” idea.

Ultimately, the diagnosis doesn’t matter - it’s the person’s functioning that does. If they’re capable of sending inappropriate content to kids, let them rot. Nobody’s convicting anyone of forming a friendship because they don’t understand social norms, but people who are predatory towards kids deserve what they get, no exceptions.

No one is convicting them of that , no, but they are being traumatised by paedophile hunters. Regardless of it all being sorted and found that nothing untoward has been done - the damage to that individual has been done.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 22:15

Cheffymcchef · 28/05/2025 22:06

If someone has got the capacity to send
sexual messages to someone who’s been clear about their age, no disability can be used as a mitigating factor.

Show quote history

Yes absolutely - I’m not talking about those I mean the ones that aren’t , that are meeting thinking they are friends because they don’t understand why it would be wrong . Not all - autism is a huge spectrum - but some are that black and white with their thinking that they know they just want to be friends and don’t feel it’s wrong so cannot understand why anyone would think different.

It’s called theory of mind. Putting yourself in the position of someone else , seeing things from another’s point of view. Something a large amount of autistic people cannot do .

OP posts:
YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 28/05/2025 22:14

Cheffymcchef · 28/05/2025 22:09

Just to say OP, while they could very much be convicted most pedophiles caught by these groups don’t go to prison especially if it’s a first offence. I knew someone who was caught twice and only got community service/ a supervision order and a couple of years on the SO register.

As others have said talking to teens underage can also be classed as grooming even if it’s not sexual. You really need to tell your son this. Even if it’s not flirty or sexual, it’s still wrong. Doesn’t matter if he gels more with them- he’s an adult man.

might also be worth him knowing that even if girls are over the age of consent where you are, sending nudes still constitutes as making CSAM unless they’re over 18.

Edited

Yet we have several prisons in the U.K. dedicated to sex offenders…..you don’t get dedicated prisons for burglary/GBH or violent offences or even drugs…..just sex offenders. I can name at least 5 prisons for sex offenders . Fairly sure there’s more

kind of shows the scale of it….and as you will know, they nearly always go on to reoffend and those offences get greater and greater until they wind up in custody serving serious time

Kibble19 · 28/05/2025 22:12

Can’t be arsed with the “he has (insert condition) so this isn’t fair” idea.

Ultimately, the diagnosis doesn’t matter - it’s the person’s functioning that does. If they’re capable of sending inappropriate content to kids, let them rot. Nobody’s convicting anyone of forming a friendship because they don’t understand social norms, but people who are predatory towards kids deserve what they get, no exceptions.

Original poster
Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 22:12

Cheffymcchef · 28/05/2025 21:52

I appreciate these groups catching pedos, but I don’t think outing them on social media is good. Risks the family of the offender (who normally don’t know anything about it) being identified and harassed. Just hand the evidence over to the police.

A hunting group near me actually all got arrested themselves for beating up the predators. Some people might say well done but it’s landed them in prison themselves.

I am autistic, and while I know there’s different levels, I know I would never message underage lads. Autism is not an excuse for doing this- I know of a lad caught in a sting who had Down’s syndrome and autism. His autism sounds like it was on a similar level to your lad. But it didn’t give him an excuse for doing what he did.

I also unfortunately personally know a guy with high functioning autism (Asperger’s) who tried to use his autism as an excuse in court. Did not work.

You say he can’t keep secrets. I’m similar, maybe due to my autism- I used to tell my mum everything. Still do. But at that age I was sexting folk online (folk my age!) and needless to say I kept it quiet from my mum. Just because he’s told you everything so far doesn’t mean he always will.

If he’s talking to young girls and you have proof (and he’s not listening to you) and won’t stop - you need to go to the police. Or you could get in trouble/investigated too when doubtless the girls parents find out and tell the police themselves. Or potentially as you say, he might find himself caught in a sting and his name outed.

Edited

Woah - I think you have completely misread here . I did not at any point say my son was messaging under age girls ! This post was not about my son, he absolutely is not.

I said that I have spoke to him about these situations and I said someone had messaged him and he had asked their age and they said they were 15 and he said he was 18 and stopped the conversation- showing that he knows it is not right . I said this to show that I have spoke to him and he knows and because of this , he won’t talk to anyone underage he does not know. But what I also said was some don’t have that level of guidance .

My son has absolutely not been talking to underage girls , my goodness .

OP posts:
x2boys · 28/05/2025 22:12

Cheffymcchef · 28/05/2025 22:06

If someone has got the capacity to send
sexual messages to someone who’s been clear about their age, no disability can be used as a mitigating factor.

Show quote history

I'm not disagreeing with you I just wanted to clarify what kind of messages he was sending
My own son is severly autistic and has severe learning disabilities, he is 15 but cognitively around 2/3
I'm guessing the person you have mentioned has a lot more capacity than my son and is a lot more cognitively able to understand why its wrong

helpmepleasewiththis · 28/05/2025 22:11

I work in this area and I see many victims and perpetrators are in the main neurodivergent. It’s really hard to get them to understand appropriate behaviour and boundaries. Parents need to have the conversations early on so that they understand that the rules are there to protect them. But it’s really concerning how common this is.

Cheffymcchef · 28/05/2025 22:09

Just to say OP, while they could very much be convicted most pedophiles caught by these groups don’t go to prison especially if it’s a first offence. I knew someone who was caught twice and only got community service/ a supervision order and a couple of years on the SO register.

As others have said talking to teens underage can also be classed as grooming even if it’s not sexual. You really need to tell your son this. Even if it’s not flirty or sexual, it’s still wrong. Doesn’t matter if he gels more with them- he’s an adult man.

might also be worth him knowing that even if girls are over the age of consent where you are, sending nudes still constitutes as making CSAM unless they’re over 18.

bombastix · 28/05/2025 22:08

Not greatly keen on their methods but neurodiversity or in particular autism really isn’t any kind of useful excuse. Being ignorant or professing you are isn’t a defence. Talking to younger teens under the age of consent can be considered grooming in certain circumstances

Ifpicklesweretickles · 28/05/2025 22:08

Yellowdaffodilss · 28/05/2025 20:32

I remember quite a few years ago now, these paedophile hunter’s started appearing on social media. Videos of them meeting people who had been talking to what they believed were underage children. I remember thinking , oh wow they’re out there protecting our children. Maybe a naive view , I don’t know.

But now , more and more , I see it becoming a regular thing and I am seeing time and time again that the so called predators they catch ( not all the time, there are times that they are grown adults knowing what they’re doing ) are very clearly people with additional needs / autism. I find it disturbing to watch - I have seen young adults panicking and not really knowing what they’re doing or the implications . It’s clear that the messages in the videos I have seen are between the “ culprit” and an ‘underage child’ discussing meeting up , when yes they have been clear they are underage but it is also clear that it has not been sexual talk and these people are not understanding that what they are doing is wrong.

I remember years ago my sister and her friend talking to a lad of around 19. My sister and her friend were chatting and asking if the lad liked the friend and he was inviting them around to his house for a sleepover and to watch movies. ( my sister told my mom as she was worried ) I went through all the messages and could see it was not sexual . This lad thought they were friends . I looked at his profile and he was clearly autistic and his emotional and mental age was probably the same as my sister and her friend. I spoke to his mother who was so thankful that I messaged and confirmed he was quite severely autistic.

My son is autistic and always been drawn to girls as friends rather than boys . He also always gets on with those younger because he is on their level more. He wouldn’t even know how to talk sexually - he’s got a very limited understanding. I can’t stop him having a phone , he’s now 18 . Luckily I’m very aware and have spoken to him about this and keep tabs on him but it’s very hard. This kind of thing really worries me.

It makes me think whether these groups are doing more harm than good. They’re outing people publicly , and for those who are vulnerable with no understanding then it could do so much harm. I get that parents should be monitoring phone use but quite frankly not all parents do.

I do also wonder - can charges be made if there is no ‘real’ victim - it’s an adult they’re talking to … I guess it could get the culprits investigated more and maybe find out more things but other than that is it not just vigilante behaviour? And also , is their real good intention there from all of them or is it a case of getting social media famous ? Could it even be that they target those who they can see are more vulnerable as it will be an easy ‘catch’ ?

So he didn't understand why it's wrong? Why did he not make the mistake of talking to another adult, for example, and invite them for a sleepover?

Cheffymcchef · 28/05/2025 22:06

x2boys · 28/05/2025 22:02

Than quite rightly he should be convicted.

Show quote history

If someone has got the capacity to send
sexual messages to someone who’s been clear about their age, no disability can be used as a mitigating factor.

Cheffymcchef · 28/05/2025 22:04

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 28/05/2025 22:00

they don’t just ‘hand it all in to police’ because they have to be caught in the act so to speak for an arrest to happen …. The meet up

otherwise it’s a lesser charge of communicating with a child…. The police turn up and the predator has at that point carried it through to the point of meeting

there’s certainly no reason to post it all over social media. Just hand the footage into the police of them meeting the hunters along with the chat logs

shoelady2 · 28/05/2025 22:03

I’ve always hated this but if you dare to point out that they are hindering police investigations or behaving inappropriately then you get labelled a pedo sympathiser by the masses of thickos who applaud them. There’s so many problems with it. Attacking those with clear learning disabilities is one of them. The implications of ‘outing’ these people on social media when they have families who are completely innocent but still have to go to work or school the next day. Not to mention sometimes they just get it completely wrong.

It’s very clear to me that a lot of these so called hunters do it for the likes and praise off idiots online. Some even have merchandise like t-shirts - what’s that got to do with protecting kids? It’s all self serving bullshit.

x2boys · 28/05/2025 22:02

Cheffymcchef · 28/05/2025 22:01

Sending sexually explicit messages, along with friendly ones, then when caught he claimed he just wanted to be her friend. He knew damn well what he was doing. Later admitted he knew he wasn’t supposed to talk to girls under 18 online.

Edited
Show quote history

Than quite rightly he should be convicted.

Cheffymcchef · 28/05/2025 22:01

x2boys · 28/05/2025 22:00

Was thevperson with Down syndrome autism ,sending sexuallly explicit messages, ?or trying to make friends ?
What level was his understanding?
Clearly whatever he needs more supervision

Show quote history

Sending sexually explicit messages, along with friendly ones, then when caught he claimed he just wanted to be her friend. He knew damn well what he was doing. Later admitted he knew he wasn’t supposed to talk to girls under 18 online.

DrCoconut · 28/05/2025 22:01

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 28/05/2025 20:46

yanbu, its insane and terrible

and I often wonder about the criminal histories of those 'pedophile hunters' involved

disgusting

One round here was exposed as a paedophile himself. These groups are vile scumbags who have no concern for others and destroy lives. They are in it for the glory and the social media likes from their knuckle dragging followers. I have bitter bitter experience that tells me this.

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