**New Educational Initiative Seeks to Shield Children from Online Exploitation**

Parents and educators now possess a fresh tool to aid in protecting children from online exploitation.

On Tuesday, **Meta** unveiled the introduction of a tailored curriculum intended to instruct middle school students on how to identify and evade online exploitation, including a method referred to as **sextortion**.

Sextortion happens when victims, under the impression they are conversing with another teenage individual, share explicit pictures of themselves. The offender then coerces the victim by threatening to disclose the images unless the victim meets their demands, often involving monetary compensation.

### A Joint Initiative to Safeguard Children

The curriculum was created by **Childhelp**, a prominent nonprofit dedicated to child safety, in conjunction with Meta and specialists from organizations like the **Department of Homeland Security** and the **National Center for Missing and Exploited Children**. The educational resources are offered at no charge to parents, educators, and other guardians.

The program encompasses videos, scripted lesson plans, and engaging classroom exercises focused on helping youth comprehend personal boundaries, foster safe relationships, and seek assistance when necessary.

*”With the increase in online risks, this alliance will enable millions of young individuals to voice their concerns and feel secure in asking for help,”* stated **Michael Medoro**, Chief of Staff at Childhelp.

### Meta’s Role in Tackling Online Exploitation

While sextortion can transpire on any platform and between individuals familiar with each other in person, scammers and criminals have often utilized Meta’s platforms to target victims.

In 2024, Meta **eliminated over 63,000 Instagram accounts** in Nigeria linked to financial sextortion schemes. These scams were well-organized, utilizing fraudulent accounts, pages, and groups that offered guidance on how to manipulate victims.

Furthermore, in October 2024, **Instagram initiated a campaign** to counter sextortion and introduced resources to assist teenage victims.

### Meta’s Mixed Reputation Regarding Safety Policies

Despite its strides to prevent exploitation, Meta has encountered backlash for **diminishing fact-checking measures** and **relaxing certain policies on hate speech**.

**Antigone Davis**, Meta’s Global Head of Safety, highlighted the significance of educating younger users:
*”At Meta, we persist in doing everything possible to safeguard youth on our platforms. These measures will be even more effective if teenagers feel assured in recognizing potential threats and are aware of where to seek help.”*

### Reporting Online Exploitation

If you or someone you know is facing online sexual exploitation, you can report it to the **[CyberTipline](https://report.cybertip.org/reporting)**, managed by the **[National Center for Missing & Exploited Children](https://www.missingkids.org/home)**.