Growing Up Online: Addressing Child Sextortion

Online exploitation of children is sadly not a new phenomenon or topic. But what is new is the dramatic growth of sextortion cases. In “Growing Up Online: Addressing Child Sextortion,” we speak with Katie Connell. Katie is unit chief of the Child Victim Services Unit at the FBI. These cases—whether fueled by financial, sexual, or revenge motives—trade on children and youth’s fear that nude or sexual images of them will be shared if they don’t meet offenders’ demands for money or more images. Tragically, the fear, shame, and stigma that victims feel has resulted in isolation, further exploitation, and even suicide. How do we prevent sextortion from happening in the first place? And if it does happen, what can we do to respond effectively and with compassion?Topics in this episode:Origin story (1:21)Types of cases FBI sees (3:40)What is sextortion? (5:15)What is fueling the growth in cases? (9:43)Who are the offenders? (13:00)How are children targeted? (15:54)Preventing and responding to cases (19:19)Public policy implications (30:47)Advice for child abuse professionals (34:58)For more information (38:53)Links and mentions:Katie Connell, MSW (Catherine S. Connell), unit chief, Child Victim Services Unit, FBI; child/adolescent forensic interview specialist in the FBI’s Macomb County, Michigan Resident AgencyDebra Poole, Ph.D., experimental faculty, Department of Psychology, Central Michigan UniversityAPSAC, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of ChildrenKimberly Poyer, section chief, FBIMartha J. Finnegan, MSW, child/adolescent forensic interview specialist, FBITFO, task force officerInnocent Images CAFI, child and adolescent forensic interviewerFBI-NCA MOU (memorandum of understanding) began in 2015 and was updated in 2022; it ensures our law enforcement partners have access to CAC services needed to investigate and prosecute federal child abuse casesNCMEC, the National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenThornFor more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.Support the showDid you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.