Childline reports 61% increase in calls from children blackmailed over nude images

Childline has told our investigation into online teenage blackmail it's seen a 61% percent increase in calls from children being impacted by this new trend.

Downtown Radio is investigating the issue, which sees teenagers being tricked into sending nude pictures on social media, before being threatened by gangs to send them money.

READ: We lift the lid on the new trend of online teenage blackmail

Childine's data shows this is a growing concern and one that boys are disproportionately being caught up in.

Just under two thirds of the calls on the issue came from boys, while the number of boys calling about this topic has more than DOUBLED since 2021/22

What are children telling Childline about blackmail?

Here's an insight into the sorts of things children are telling Childline about their experiences.

“I met a girl on app who said she was into the same games as me. We’d been chatting for ages, and I sent her some nude pictures and she said she’d send some back. Instead, she’s saying I have to send her hundreds of pounds in gaming gift cards, or she’ll share my pictures everywhere. I knew to block her, but I’m worried she’ll still share them” (Boy, 17)

“I should have known she wasn’t real. I’ve never had any girls interested in me before, I’ll admit I was just glad a girl wanted to talk to me. I had doubts about her, but I ignored them. After we exchanged numbers and nudes, she disappeared, and I got bombarded by messages from new accounts demanding money. I’ve already sent them hundreds of pounds, but they won’t leave me alone, how do I stop them asking me for more?” (Boy, 18)

“I thought the person I was talking to was a lady and she asked to see my privates. She said she was 16, now she’s saying she’s 9 and that I’ve broken the law! She says I have to send her my mum’s card details, or she’ll have me arrested. I’m so scared of getting in trouble with my mum and the police” (Boy, 13)

Blackmail nudes numbers are "just the tip of the iceberg"

Cormac Nolan is from Childline Online.

He's told our investigation that this new trend has become a huge issue for young people, particularly boys.

He said: "There's no question that the issue is bigger than we're seeing. I think we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg at the moment.

"It really has become the principle form of online abuse that we're seeing.

"The numbers increase year on year, last year we saw a 61% increase and we do expect that to increase this year as well."

Teenage blackmail over nudes leading to "suicidal actions"

Cormac told us about the emotional state of young people who'd contacted Childline to talk about their experiences: "They're frightened, isolated, very concerned about what will happen in the immediate moment, but also about what will happen in their future.

"Will it affect their prospects for university, for jobs, will families find out? They level of worry cannot be overstated.

"There's fear, right up to suicidal thoughts and feelings, right up to suicidal actions to match those thoughts and feelings. That's how serious it is."

What to do if you're impacted by the issue of blackmail over nude images

If you've been impacted by this issue, there's a series of actions you can take, as a child or a parent.

You're not on your own.

We've got a list of all those services in this article - which includes police advice, resources for parents, and links to the Report Remove service.

Report Remove is a collaboration between the Internet Watch Foundation and the NSPCC to remove nude images of children from the internet.

We'll have more on our investigation into online teenage blackmail throughout the week on Downtown Radio.

The investigation is led by Senior Correspondent Mick Coyle.

Hear the latest news on Downtown on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.