When it Happens to You: Avenues for Support if Your Child is a Victim of Online Sexual Exploitation 

By Jackie Block Goldstein, LSW, Vice President for Survivor Care at Our Rescue, and John Trenary Vice President of Cyber at Our Rescue 

Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only.  If you believe a child is in immediate danger, contact 9-1-1 or your local authorities. 

Raising kids in today’s digital environment is no easy feat.  In addition to juggling all of the traditional demands of caring for children and teens, parents are now faced with the challenge of keeping kids safe on the very devices that are necessary for schoolwork, entertainment, and social engagement.  Whereas before, protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation may have meant locking the front door, now offenders have access via the devices in kids’ pockets, school laptops or on their bedside tables.  And while online prevention begins offline, technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TA-CSA) is unfortunately not always preventable, even in the best of homes.  If you are one of the many families navigating suspected or confirmed online child exploitation, you are not alone. Education and support exist for you and your child, and Our Rescue is here to guide you down your path towards safety and healing.  

You Are Not Alone 

As much as we all wish that online sexual exploitation never happened, it has become a very real issue impacting millions of children and their families worldwide.  According to research from the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute, an estimated 1 in 8 children experience some form of online sexual exploitation each year. That equates to roughly 300 million children globally. And the numbers are growing.  Between 2021 and 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported that online enticement reports increased by more than 300%. As sharing nude images has become a form of social currency, the threat of online exploitation has become more commonplace for youth.  Thorn’s “Youth Perspectives on Online Safety, 2022: an Annual Report of Youth Attitudes and Experiences” (November, 2023), found that 1 in 3 minors reported having an online sexual interaction and 29% of all minors reported having an online sexual interaction with someone they believed to be an adult.  1 in 4 minors agree that it is normal for people their age to share nudes with each other and 1 in 7 minors have shared their own Self-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).  

How Online Sexual Exploitation Can Affect Children 

The unique features of online exploitation, such as the permanence of digital images and videos, have been found to create an impact on children that is complex and distinct. Many report intense self-blame and guilt, fear about the future because of the presence of their images online and corresponding hypervigilance about when they may appear, social isolation and challenges with interpersonal relationships.¹  In fact, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s 2017 Executive Summary found that 67% of CSAM survivors said the distribution of their images impacts them differently than the hands-on abuse they suffered because the distribution never ends and the images are permanent.  

How Parents and Caregivers May Feel 

Just as children who have experienced online sexual exploitation have a myriad of reactions, so do caregivers. In the aftermath of learning that a child has been exploited, there is simply no “normal” response. Feelings of shock, confusion, anger, disbelief, fear and sadness are not uncommon and they may evolve over time. The impact on caregivers can be profound, with many reporting that they feel helpless and inadequate as they struggle to adapt to the digital age and set limits on internet usage that are effective yet reasonable.²  Learning that your child may have been exploited online can feel incredibly overwhelming and most do not know what to do.  However, knowing the initial steps to take can prevent further harm and have a powerful impact on your child. 

Step 1: Listen and Don’t Blame (your child or yourself) 

While a range of emotions is to be expected, it is important to remember that the only one responsible for online sexual exploitation is the offender themselves.  Victim-blaming—whether it is of the child or the caregiver—only exacerbates the negative impact and may keep those who need it most from accessing education, support, and resources.   

For the immediate response, as much as possible, stay calm, stop the contact, and report to authorities.  Please remember: 

• It is not your fault and it is not your child’s fault. Your child may have made choices that made them more vulnerable, but the exploiter is to blame and it is a crime. 

• If your child has come to you about technology-assisted child sexual abuse, thank them for speaking up and getting help. According to Thorn, 1 in 5 minors who experienced an online sexual interaction did not disclose their experience to anyone.  

• If there is an element of blackmail, authorities caution any sort of engagement. Carefully consider the situation before making a decision about paying money or complying.  Cooperation rarely stops the sextortion. 

• Report to authorities 

• Block the suspect but do not delete anything. 

Step 2: Report Online Child Exploitation 

Reporting is the first step towards getting you and your child the assistance that you need to stop the exploitation and move on with your lives.  In an emergency where there is an immediate need for law enforcement, report to 9-1-1 or contact local authorities.  

 However, for non-exigent situations without a clear safety threat (such as an online crime that occurred in the past), there are specialized law enforcement professionals who are trained to respond to tips of online child sexual exploitation.  The best way to ensure that specialized investigative response is to contact: 

• NCMEC CyberTipline- go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).  

• Call the Know2Protect Tipline at 833-591-KNOW (5669).  They will review the information and refer the tip to Homeland Security Investigations field offices for potential investigations 

• Report the offense to the company/platform directly.  For specific instructions for how to do that based on the individual platform, go to https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/isyourexplicitcontentoutthere 

• Contact your state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces (ICACs).  Our Rescue partners with ICACs around the country to provide support and technical assistance.  To find the ICAC Task Force near you, go to https://www.icactaskforce.org/TaskForceContacts 

Step 3: Prepare for an Investigation and Advocate for a Team Approach 

While not all tips reported lead to an investigation, many do.  You and your child have a right to know what is happening during the investigative process and to advocate for a coordinated, trauma-informed, victim-centered investigation.  Advocating for a multidisciplinary team response helps bring together all of the different disciplines involved in these situations and ensures that everyone is working together to improve outcomes for your child and the investigation.  

• Ask questions. No one expects you to be an expert in technology-assisted child sexual abuse, so when you are unsure what is happening, ask.  Investigators will tell you what to do with the devices to maximize evidence preservation.  

• Advocate for a multidisciplinary team (MDT) response. Law enforcement should be working in tandem with any other professionals that may need to be involved. Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) can help with this process.  CACs are child-focused facilities that help abused and exploited kids and families heal by coordinating the investigation and ensuring access to treatment. Their primary goal is to ensure that children are not further victimized by the intervention systems designed to protect them.  For more information about CACs and to locate the CAC nearest you, please visit the National Children’s Alliance at https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org or the National Children’s Advocacy Center at https://www.nationalcac.org.  

• Ensure that your child is interviewed by a trained Child/Adolescent Forensic Interviewer. Forensic Interviewers are professionals who have specialized education, training and experience conducting legally-sound, developmentally appropriate, neutral, fact-finding interviews that meet the needs of investigators without causing additional trauma.  Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, state and local law enforcement agencies, and many CACs have Forensic Interviewers with additional specialization in interviewing victims of online child sexual exploitation and they are uniquely qualified to interview your child when these types of crimes have taken place.  

Step 4: Educate yourself and your child 

Online safety isn’t a one-time conversation, but a lifelong dialogue that evolves as our children do. However, how are caregivers supposed to initiate that dialogue if they know less about technology than their kids?  Our Rescue recommends you learn about online safety together, and luckily, there are many resources available to help including: 

• Our Rescue’s online safety resources- “Start Talking: A Training for Keeping Children Safe Online,” “Our Shield, A New Online Safety Superpower for Caregivers and Kids” Online Trainings, and the Sextortion educational page, all of which can be found at https://ourrescue.org/training-prevention 

• NCMEC’s NetSmartz and KidSmartz at https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz/home 

• Homeland Security’s Know2Protect campaign at https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect 

• Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program’s internet safety resources at https://www.icactaskforce.org/internetsafety 

Step 5: Get Support 

No one should go through this alone, and there are many resources available to support you and your child.  From trauma-focused therapy, to education and support groups, it can be challenging to know where to start. For help to find the appropriate services to meet your needs, Victim Specialists (sometimes referred to as Victim Advocates or Survivor Care Directors) are available through local and federal law enforcement and CACs.  The Survivor Care team at Our Rescue maintains an extensive database of vetted service partners for individualized referrals and linkages. If you would like to get in touch, email the Survivor Care team directly at [email protected]. Likewise, NCMEC has resources for survivors, caregivers and families impacted by child sexual exploitation. One example is Team HOPE which is a group of peer support volunteers with lived experience. Call 1-877-446-2632 ext. 6117.  And check out Know2Protect’s “You’re Never Alone Support Directory for Youth” to find support and safety resources in English and Spanish You’re Never Alone Support Directory for Youth | Homeland Security. These interventions make a real difference and are effective in helping to mediate the negative impact often caused by exploitation.  

If Your Child is in Crisis 

Accessing ongoing support and care is important, but in some cases, more immediate intervention may be necessary.  The FBI and NCMEC have reported a dramatic rise in sextortion cases in the past several years, with victims being primarily boys.  Sadly, at least a dozen victims have died by suicide.  If you feel that your child is in crisis, do not wait to seek help.  Contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at https://988lifeline.org or call or text 988.  

Moving Forward With Confidence (Surviving and Thriving) 

People often say that the internet is forever, which is one of the reasons why online child exploitation can be so traumatic.  However, while it may not be possible to completely remove all risk of sexually explicit content being shared, there are things that you can do to stop it. The Take It Down service is one way to help remove online sexually explicit photos and videos of minors.  To learn more go to https://takeitdown.ncmec.org   

Children can and do recover in the aftermath of online sexual exploitation.  Research consistently shows that the most critical factor in determining positive long-term emotional and behavioral outcomes for children after sexual abuse or exploitation is the support of a non-offending caregiver.³   Your response matters. Listening, believing, protecting, and seeking help can make an enormous difference in your child’s healing journey. 

1. Forrester Fellowes A, Kloess JA and Gladden S (2026) The psychological impact on and mental health outcomes for victim-survivors of technology-assisted child sexual abuse: a systematic literature review. Front. Psychol. 17:1682155. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1682155 ↩︎
2. Birgersson A and Jonsson LS (2026) Support, snacks, and a tailored approach to empower recovery: professionals’ insights on supporting children victimized by online child sexual abuse. Front. Psychol. 16:1651951. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1651951 ↩︎
3. Conte & Shuerman, 1987; Spaccarelli & Kim, 1995, Elliot & Carnes, 2001, Rosenthal, Feiring, & Taska, 2003 ↩︎