Understanding the Threat and How to Stay Safe
Overview of the Crackdown
In a significant move to combat online sextortion, Meta has announced the removal of about 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria involved in sextortion scams. This effort also extended to thousands of Facebook groups and pages attempting to organize, recruit, and train new scammers. The accounts were linked to a coordinated network run by approximately 20 individuals (Ortutay, 2024).1
Understanding Sextortion
Sextortion involves coercing individuals into sending explicit photos online, followed by threats to release these images publicly unless the victim pays money or complies with further demands. High-profile cases have shown the devastating effects of this crime, including the tragic suicides of young victims like Rohan Cosgriff from Australia and Gavin Guffey from the United States (Ortutay, 2024).
Steps Meta is Taking
Meta has introduced several new measures to protect users, especially minors, from sextortion. These include deploying new tools on Instagram that automatically blur nudity in direct messages, enhancing AI-driven content moderation, and tightening content restrictions. These efforts are part of Meta’s broader strategy to make it more challenging for scammers to find and interact with potential victims.
How to Protect Yourself from Sextortion
While Meta’s actions are crucial, individual users must also take steps to protect themselves from becoming victims of sextortion. Here are some essential steps:
- Be Cautious with Unknown Contacts: Be wary of messages from unknown individuals, especially those with highly stylized photos or profiles that appear too good to be true. Scammers often use attractive images to lure victims (Meta, 2024).2
- Do Not Share Explicit Content: Avoid sharing explicit photos or videos online, even with people you trust. Once an image is shared digitally, it can be challenging to control its distribution (Meta, 2024).
- Use Privacy Settings: Make full use of privacy settings on social media platforms to limit who can contact you and view your posts. Meta defaults teens under 16 into private accounts to protect their privacy and restricts adults from messaging minors who do not follow them (AFP, 2024).
- Report Suspicious Activity: If you receive suspicious messages or threats, report them immediately to the platform and relevant authorities. Meta has tools like Safety Notices on Instagram to alert users of potential scams. She directs them to resources like Take It Down, a program designed to help remove intimate images from the internet (FBI, 2024).3
- Educate Yourself and Others: Awareness is critical. Educate yourself, your children, and your peers about the dangers of sextortion and the importance of digital privacy. Resources like Meta’s updated Sextortion hub and guidance from organizations like Thorn provide valuable information on how to respond to and prevent these scams (Meta, 2024).
Meta’s crackdown on sextortion scams marks a significant step towards making the internet safer. However, individual vigilance and proactive measures are essential to protect against these threats. By staying informed, cautious, and ready to act, users can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to sextortion.
References
- Ortutay, B. (2024, July 24). Meta takes down thousands of Facebook and Instagram accounts running sextortion scams from Nigeria. ABC News. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/meta-takes-thousands-facebook-accounts-running-sextortion-scams-112226338
↩︎ - Company, F., & Meta. (2024, February 6). Helping teens avoid sextortion scams. Meta. https://about.fb.com/news/2024/02/helping-teens-avoid-sextortion-scams/
↩︎ - Sextortion: What kids and caregivers need to know. (2024, July 10). Federal Bureau of Investigation. https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion ↩︎
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