sextortion?? 11yr old sent explicit content!

[WaryAquaLurker]

ok so, my 11 year old got chatting to someone on tiktok, ‘she’ asked him to add him on telegram. They had a little flirty chat and decided to exchange images and videos 😭 which is horrendous in itself.

BUT almost straight away this person then told him that if he didn’t comply with their demands they were going to ruin his life, they’ve screenshotted and saved the pictures and video, screenshot all his followers on tik tok etc. He didn’t reply after this, didn’t block them but deleted the app.

He hasn’t told me about this but he wasn’t himself this evening so i did some digging on his phone, managed to get in to telegram and see what was said etc

Im absolutely devastated! devastated for him, for me, for us as a family. I’m just utterly heartbroken and have no idea what to do! Thankfully it wasn’t his main tiktok so only had 50 followers (he posts just football edits) so mainly people he doesn’t know i think but his face is in these pictures and videos and he gave his full name.

I don’t need slamming that i OBVIOUSLY need to do more work with him around internet safety. But where do i go from here?

Do i hope they are just bluffing?? I mean he’s quite clearly a child and he told them as much so do we really think they will share them?!

I am of course confiscating the device for the time being from him and will monitor anything that comes through myself

I deactivated the tiktok for now but just have no idea what to do or think 😭

any advice at all?! 💔

Honestly, if this was my son I would do 2 things.

First, obviously I would be going to the authorities about it...

But I would also tell him that it really isn't the end of the world. I know it feels that way for a teen, but absolutely worst case, people see his thing... which is mortifying, I get it... but life goes on, and in a few years no one will care or remember, in fact, most people will be far more sympathetic and understanding than he thinks. His life will go on, and it really won't be the life-ending disaster that he might think it is.

I think the second part is very important because teens have committed suicide over things like this, because in their teenage brains it literally feels like the end of the world. They need an adult to be in their corner, reminding them that it isn't, and that it will all blow over.

However, I would hope that if he calls their bluff, they will eventually just go away. If they know he won't give them money, there isn't really a lot of motivation for them to post the pictures.

The exact same happened to another poster on here. They had amazing advice and it ended up with the police, hopefully you can find it.

i’ve tried looking for similar posts but can’t find anything! 🥺

thank you…yes i’m hoping nothing will come of it but im trying to prepare for the worst 😭 im going to speak to the police today and i think i will speak to his school as well. I’m just absolutely devastated

Looking on the slim positive side though - it is really really good that you found this out, and can help him. The worst thing is when teenagers suffer it silently, and end up doing worse, giving in, or harming themselves etc.

Now at least you are in control and can help him get through it.

can you remember the name of the thread please? or any key words etc so i can try and search! 🤞🏼

yes thank you, i’ve spoken to the police this morning so waiting for them to come out now and speak with us.