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 Agency

Debra Poole, Ph.D., experimental faculty, Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University

APSAC, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children

Kimberly Poyer, section chief, FBI

Martha J. Finnegan, MSW, child/adolescent forensic interview specialist, FBI

TFO, task force officer

Innocent Images 

CAFI, child and adolescent forensic interviewer

FBI-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 cases

NCMEC, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Thorn

For 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.

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