I am so incredibly concerned about how the victims of sextortion and their families are treated online, even if they’re dead.
For the past two weeks, I have been researching court cases of sextortion for an article I’d like to write.
I cannot even begin to tell you how devastating it is to hear those stories — the kind of stories that will haunt you for a long time to come.
The stories themselves are horrific, but it doesn’t end there. What I see now is the alarming rise of victim-blaming online under the guise of comments, even if the victims are as young as 11.
Yes, you heard me right.
This one particular article I read was about the tragic death of an 11-year-old girl who took her life after being sexually harassed online and blackmailed.
While some comments expressed sorrow for the victim and her family, many reflected a deeply troubling trend: an escalation in victim-blaming that borders on inhumane.
Rather than showing compassion, numerous individuals turned to shaming the child and her family.
While some pointed fingers at the parents or social media platforms, the most shocking responses were those laced with cruelty, laughing emojis, degrading remarks, and cold-hearted blame directed at the victim, the child victim.
One commenter wrote:
“Survival of the fittest, how embarrassing for the parents!”
Another stated:
“At 11, should’ve known better.”
Perhaps the most disturbing of all was this:
“Well, that one doesn’t grow up to be a drain on society! So a win-win.”
How cruel is that?
Clearly, the internet has given voice to certain individuals who severely lack empathy and exhibit a growing disconnect from basic human decency.
Unfortunately, this is the society we live in these days.
The reason why most victims of fraud or sextortion do not report the crime is that they’re embarrassed. They think they would be crucified if they told what is happening to them or what has happened.
When you think about it and read the comments left for a real case of suicide brought by sextortion, you understand why victims choose to be silent.
The public urgently needs education around victim blaming, especially in cases of sextortion, fraud, exploitation, and tragic circumstances where the victims, including children, deserve support, not scorn.
It is also clear that there is a concerning gap in parental awareness about the risks children face online today. We need a more proactive, informed approach to digital safety, through education, resources, and community support, to protect young people from harm.
I believe that we must do better. This is not the time for judgment or victim-blaming. It’s time for empathy. It’s time for compassion.
And it’s time to remind ourselves that our words travel far, and this is not some movie you’re rating on Rotten Tomatoes because you didn’t like the special effects.
It’s time to remind ourselves that every tragic story involves real people, real pain, and real consequences. So, please be kind to the victims.
