Social Media Scams, AI, and the Growing Exploitation of our Children

In today's interconnected world, where the internet has become an integral part of our lives, it has opened up a plethora of opportunities for children to learn, connect, and explore. However, along with its benefits, the digital realm has also given rise to a distressing and deeply concerning issue: the exploitation of kids who are online. Kids who get on the internet are hunted and exploited every day, and AI (Artificial Intelligence) is making this issue exponentially worse. Technology continues to advance, and so do the tactics and methods employed by perpetrators, making it crucial for us to bring attention to this alarming problem.

You may have seen actors and singers generated through AI appear in movies or concerts after their death, or as their 40-year younger self. This same technology is being used by bad actors to target victims, including children and young adults. They do so by taking normal pictures from social media and internet postings to create pornographic content that is largely indistinguishable from the real thing. 

These “deep fakes” are then used to shame, blackmail, and extort money from the victims.  Victims of these “sextortions” may think they are in fact talking to someone from their peer group looking for intimacy and may share actual compromising pictures or videos with a bad actor as well.  Fear and panic may ensue, and under the duress, people, especially younger people, can make drastic and dangerous decisions.  Scared children and even adults have committed suicide because they are being blackmailed with nudes, many of which turn out to be fake. These things are happening in private, so while this may be a tough discussion, parents especially, need to lay out an action plan if this ever happens. If you haven’t had this discussion, then it can be too late.

Here is a rundown of how sextortion can happen, and some possible steps to take in response:

1. Bad actors commonly rely on blackmail and shame to have their way with victims. They may, for example, send text messages from different phones saying in effect, "your life is over if you don’t pay us $2,000.” Do not ever pay a blackmailer as they will often then send additional demands for more money.
   
   
2. Whatever they threaten, assume it will happen – but probably be seen by far fewer than you imagine. And remember, as the saying goes, “This too shall pass.”
   
   
3. Do not reply, respond, or interact with the bad actor. It will do no good as their only goal is to get as much money as they can from you.
   
   
4. Do not make permanent decisions, like suicide, for a temporary problem. You are more valuable than any unflattering picture or video and most people will express sorrow that it happened and ignore it. Anyone else, well, there are billions of people in the world, you can’t please all of them.
   
   
5. Talk to a person that isn’t emotionally committed, someone that won’t judge. And remember, you are the victim, and don’t let anyone shame you, the victim.
   
   
6. Try to get ahead of the problem. If you anticipate something unflattering coming out, then post about what is going on, and encourage acquaintances to ignore the bad actors’ queries and to block them.
   
   
7. The bad actors may look to access your social media friends and send them queries and posts that appear to be from you. You can always set your account to private, to keep it only visible to your contacts.  This doesn’t, unfortunately, block a bad actor that gets in with your permission. Removing them, and then locking down your account is the only action at that point.
   
   
8. Move on, and live. If my life was on video, I wouldn’t be proud but my mom still would be, and most likely so will yours. 
   
   
9. Reflect on what is good in your life, or the things you want to make good in your life.
   
   
10. Contact the FBI and the cybersecurity division of the platforms you were sextorted on. The FBI has this site to help: https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2023/PSA230605. Or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
    
    
11. If sextortion happens to your child, consider contacting The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/.

As we witness the increasing exploitation of children in the digital realm, it is imperative that we confront this issue head-on. By initiating an open dialogue, fostering collaboration, and promoting awareness, we can take a crucial step forward in ensuring a safer online environment for our children. Through this blog, we hope to inspire action, encourage vigilance, and ultimately make a positive impact in protecting the innocence and well-being of our young generation. Together, we can create a digital world where children can thrive without fear of exploitation.