Summarised by Centrist
A recent child extortion case illustrates the importance of parental support in helping young victims face online abuse. A convicted child sex offender from Northern Ireland, posing as a teen online, used manipulation to extort children for images and then blackmail them.
Alexander McCartney targeted 3,500 children globally, including some from New Zealand. Many young victims, overcome with shame, failed to notify caregivers or authorities allowing the abuse to perpetuate.
Netsafe advises parents to reassure children they won’t be judged if they come forward, no matter how they got involved. Chief Online Safety Officer Sean Lyons says, “It’s good to make a plan as a family…you can come to us, you can talk to us.”
Eleanor Parkes from the global organisation End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking (ECPAT) stated that online extortion won’t stop, saying it’s vital young people know where to turn. “They need that support,” she notes, pointing to organisations like Netsafe and the police for help.
Parents are encouraged to create a safe family environment, allowing open discussions. Parkes adds, extortionists “know exactly what to say, how to get those young children completely panicked,” reinforcing the importance of parents to offer support and guidance when dealing with internet threats.
