The number of children reporting being targeted by sextortion criminals has more than doubled, according to the NSPCC, which shared new data with Metro. Between April 2025 and March 2026, Childline, the NSPCC’s helpline, handled 242 cases involving sextortion—a form of blackmail where perpetrators threaten to share intimate images unless demands are met. This is double the number from the 2024/25 period (120 cases) and more than double the 103 cases reported in 2023/24. Of the 2,444 counselling sessions related to online child sexual abuse and exploitation during this time, over 1,000 involved non-financial blackmail or threats to share private images, often targeting girls and involving demands for more images or in-person meetings. Many of the victims are male teenagers aged 14 to 17, who were tricked into sending nude photos to criminals through fake profiles posing as people they knew. Some victims had already sent money to perpetrators, only to face further demands, including higher ransoms or ongoing payments. Criminals threatened to expose the images unless victims paid amounts ranging from £20 to £3,000. These tactics often exploit the emotional vulnerability of young people, who may feel isolated or frightened. The NSPCC and other campaigners have pushed the government to require Apple and Google to implement device-level technology that blocks nudity, preventing children from taking, receiving, or viewing explicit images. A deadline for Big Tech companies to implement these safeguards passed on September 8, but Apple and Google have not yet announced the measures requested by ministers. The NSPCC’s CEO, Chris Sherwood, warned that children should not bear the consequences of tech companies’ inaction and urged the government to legislate if the companies fail to act. The Home Office reiterated its commitment to ensuring that anyone under 18 cannot take, receive, view, or send nude images on their devices and said it would introduce legislation if Apple and Google do not comply. Social media platforms were frequently mentioned in counselling sessions. Snapchat was referenced in 324 sessions, a 19% increase from the previous year, followed by TikTok (234 mentions), Instagram (197 mentions), Discord (92 mentions), and WhatsApp (39 mentions). While these mentions may indicate negative experiences, they could also reflect neutral or positive interactions. Tech companies have introduced various safety measures, such as Meta’s 50+ tools for teen safety, including private accounts and content controls. Discord has implemented safety systems using technology, human investigations, and user reports, with teen protections now default for UK users. Apple has introduced age checks for iPhone users, activating safety features for those not verified as over 18, but nudity detection is not applied to the camera or broader apps. Google’s Sensitive Content Warnings blur explicit images in messages for supervised users and signed-in unsupervised teens, but the feature applies only to images, not videos. Anna Sabine, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport, called on Andy Burnham to take action against Silicon Valley tech companies, urging emergency legislation to force platforms to introduce new safety protocols or face business disruption measures.