Online streaming predator: Child sexual extortion case shows importance of parental non-judgment – Netsafe

Netsafe’s head of online safety, Sean Lyons, said young people often tried to deal with the situation on their own in such situations, but parents needed to make it clear they would not judge.

“It’s good to make a plan as a family, tell them, ‘I don’t care how you got here… if you’re in trouble, this is what we do as a family, this is how we handle it.’ You can come to us, you can talk to us, if it’s too embarrassing to talk to us directly, here’s your go-to family member or family friend.’”

ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking) New Zealand director Eleanor Parkes said the number of McCartney’s victims was “genuinely frightening” but his approach, such as using templates to quickly respond to his victims, was increasing. widespread.

“You get the sense that for many of them it’s not something they’ve only done once, it might not be something they’re new to.

“They know exactly what to say, how to make these young kids completely panic that their reputations are ruined and their lives are over because these photos are in the public domain for their friends and family to see them.”

Parkes said it was unlikely young people would stop sending nude photos.

“They’re just using the internet for that… so it’s really about people knowing how to respond (to blackmail) and making sure they can go to parents, they can get that support, they can go to the police, they can come to an organization like ECPAT. Netsafe who can support them in the next steps.”

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