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AI fake images and sextortion: what parents should know
Sextortion no longer requires a child to send a real photo. Software can create convincing fake intimate images from an ordinary picture taken from a social-media profile. Offenders then threaten to share the fake and demand money or more images.
Why it matters
- A child can be targeted without ever sending anything
- The fake can feel as real and as shameful as a genuine image
- The threat works because the child is afraid of being disbelieved or blamed
What to do
- Tell your child that a fake image is a crime committed against them, not something they did
- Don’t pay, and save evidence
- Report to the NCMEC CyberTipline and use Take It Down, which works on images made of someone under 18
- Review privacy settings and who can see and download your child’s photos
If your child is struggling, call or text 988. For the first-hour plan, see our printable checklist.
Safety is built before the crisis
Pick your part and see it through. Prevention works when people follow through.