Children in UK Report Online Sextortion Attempts in Record-breaking Numbers

Children across the United Kingdom are reporting record levels of online sextortion, prompting renewed calls for stronger action from major technology companies and government regulators.

According to the Report Remove service—run by the Internet Watch Foundation in partnership with NSPCC—there were 394 reports in 2025 from under-18s who were blackmailed after sharing explicit images online. This marks a 34% increase compared to the previous year.

Sextortion involves perpetrators manipulating young people into sending intimate photos or videos, then threatening to release the content unless further images or money are provided. The data reveals that boys aged 14 to 17 made up 98% of reported victims, highlighting a growing and concerning trend.

The issue has been linked to several tragic cases involving British teenagers. One such case is that of 16-year-old Murray Dowey from Dunblane, whose family is pursuing legal action against Meta Platforms, alleging insufficient safety measures on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Advocacy groups, including the Molly Rose Foundation, are urging tech companies to implement stronger safeguards. They have called for mandatory nudity-detection technology on devices made by companies such as Apple and Google. The IWF has supported these proposals, stating that government intervention may be necessary if companies fail to act voluntarily.

Child safety campaigners argue that many sextortion cases begin on social media platforms, where predators groom victims. Despite existing tools—such as Apple’s communication safety alerts and Google’s sensitive content warnings—critics say current measures are not sufficient to stop the growing threat.

Data from Report Remove also shows a 66% increase in overall reports from minors, rising to 1,894 cases in 2025. Of these, 1,175 involved highly explicit material classified as child sexual abuse content. Reports involving videos also climbed by 27%, reaching 509 cases.

Kerry Smith, chief executive of the IWF, warned that the full scale of the problem may be far greater than reported. Many victims may not be aware of available support services or may be too afraid to come forward. She noted that offenders often use aggressive tactics and emotional manipulation to control their victims.

Meanwhile, Childline director Shaun Friel emphasized a positive development: more young people are becoming aware of tools like Report Remove and are seeking help. The service allows users to upload images, which are converted into digital “hashes” that can be shared with tech companies to prevent further distribution—without sharing the actual content.

A spokesperson for Google said the company remains committed to tackling sextortion through evolving safety measures. Meta Platforms has also introduced features such as image-blurring tools and participates in shared safety initiatives, though it declined to comment on the latest figures. Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

UK safeguarding minister Jess Phillips described the situation as deeply concerning, noting that sextortion and online abuse have contributed to child deaths. She pledged continued efforts to make the internet safer for young users.

The UK government is reportedly considering stricter regulations, including requiring devices sold in the country to include built-in protections against explicit content, as pressure grows on tech companies to take more responsibility for user safety.