A vast and hidden phenomenon that requires greater awareness.
In 2023, cases of sextortion, especially against minors, increased from 130 cases in 2022 to 136 cases.
This is revealed by the annual report of the Postal Police, which underlines how the crime, previously “a prerogative of the adult world,” currently “frequently involves adolescents and, worryingly, children aged 15 to 17.”
The report for 2023 indicates a slight decline in on-line solicitation cases. However, the involvement of minors aged 10 to 13 remains steady. These are young people who should not have access to social media and should be supervised by their families.
The report indicates that “the pre-adolescent group presents the greatest number of techno-mediated sexual interactions: 206 out of a total of 351 cases.” Social networks and on-line video games allow contact between minors and adults that most frequently lead to harmful interactions. Furthermore, in 2023, 284 cases of cyberbullying were monitored. On the other hand, the number of minors reported to the judicial authorities decreased: 104 compared to 127 last year.
How can minors be protected from sexual blackmail on the web? The Fully Enjoy the Internet workshops, involving experts from the Postal Police, are an effective tool for raising awareness among the various targets and developing appropriate digital skills to face life on-line.
