Skip to content
Thorn, a nonprofit that develops technology to protect children from online sexual abuse, has released one of the most comprehensive studies to date on sextortion among youth in the U.S. Titled Sextortion & Young People: Navigating Threats in Digital Environments, the study exposes the devastating psychological, emotional, and sometimes physical toll that sextortion has on minors.
Drawing from a national survey of 1,200 respondents aged 13 to 20, Thorn’s report
(find it via this link on NBC affiliate KGET.com) finds that 1 in 7 young people who experienced sextortion as a minor harmed themselves as a result. LGBTQ+ youth were especially vulnerable, with 28% reporting self-harm—nearly triple the rate of their non-LGBTQ+ peers (10%).
“Sextortion has evolved into much more than just a scam. It’s a form of manipulative, isolating abuse that’s enacted on children navigating their interactions on platforms every day,” said Melissa Stroebel, Thorn’s Vice President of Research and Strategic Impact. “Kids are being pushed into dangerous and self-destructive behaviors, and far too often, they’re navigating it alone.”
Key findings from Thorn’s report include:
- 1 in 6 victims (18%) sent additional sexual images due to threats.
- 1 in 10 (10%) reported sending sexual imagery of someone else.
- 15% stayed in or returned to a relationship with their abuser.
- 17% were 12 years old or younger when first sextorted.
- 1 in 3 victims (36%) knew the perpetrator in real life—often a schoolmate, romantic partner, or family acquaintance.
Sextortion, or sexual extortion, involves threatening to release explicit content unless the victim complies with further demands—whether for more images, money, or continued interaction. While anyone can be targeted, Thorn’s data makes clear that youth are especially vulnerable, and perpetrators often exploit their trust or fear.
Technology plays a central role in these crimes. According to the report:
- 81% of youth said the threats occurred exclusively online, primarily via social media or messaging apps.
- Only 6% experienced threats in person only, showing the dominance of digital tools in perpetrating harm.
“Sextortion has become a tool of control,” said Stroebel. “And the damage it causes to young people, especially when it comes from someone the victim knows, is devastating.”
The scope of the issue is wide: 1 in 5 teens surveyed said they had experienced sextortion. These experiences often left youth feeling isolated and unsafe, with few knowing where to turn.
“This study shows that ‘following the rules’ or trusting someone you know doesn’t always protect you,” Stroebel added. “We need to widen the conversation and prepare kids for the real-world risks they face—online and off.”
A Call to Action for Parents, Platforms, and Youth
To combat sextortion and its effects, Thorn is urging platforms to improve detection, tracking, and reporting systems. Meanwhile, parents and caregivers must play a proactive role. Thorn’s Thorn for Parents initiative offers tools and conversation starters to help adults have honest, ongoing conversations with their children about digital safety.
Thorn’s NoFiltr program also engages youth directly, offering relatable content that helps young people recognize and respond to online threats in real time. For those worried about intimate images of themselves online, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Take It Down tool allows minors to request removal of images from the internet.
To read the full report, Sextortion & Young People: Navigating Threats in Digital Environments, visit thorn.org.
About Thorn
Thorn is a nonprofit building cutting-edge tools to fight child sexual abuse in the digital world. Its mission includes supporting law enforcement, partnering with tech companies, shaping policy, and empowering youth and families through education. Thorn envisions a world where every child can simply be a kid, free from exploitation.
