A report indicates that Instagram and WhatsApp have the highest number of sextortion reports, while iMessage is being used as a tool against adolescents.

      Over 2,000 complaints in a span of six months, yet the platforms are still struggling to keep up.

      If you are a user of Instagram, WhatsApp, or iMessage, it’s important to be aware of the situation on these platforms. Australia’s online safety regulator, eSafety, has released a new transparency report with concerning findings.

      According to The Guardian, the regulator identified significant deficiencies in how major tech companies are addressing online sexual extortion and child sexual exploitation, even as the number of reports continues to rise.

      Which applications are criminals predominantly using for sextortion?

      From July to December 2025, eSafety received more than 2,000 reports of sexual extortion. Instagram and WhatsApp accounted for over 1,300 of these complaints combined, making them the most frequently mentioned platforms by a considerable margin.

      Men between the ages of 18 to 24 submitted the highest number of complaints, totaling approximately 800. However, the regulator pointed out that younger teenagers are increasingly being targeted, with Apple’s iMessage and Snapchat being the services most linked to these dangers for users under 18.

      Victims receive alarming messages. The regulator reported threats like “I have everything to ruin your life” and “only money can help you now to end this peacefully.”

      Why aren’t the platforms addressing this issue?

      The frustrating reality is that the technology to combat this already exists. Language analysis can identify the common coercion scripts used by these criminals, and detection tools can oversee live streams and video calls. eSafety discovered that most platforms are simply not taking advantage of these technologies. Microsoft was the only company that indicated it was utilizing both.

      eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated that offenders are taking advantage of weak detection systems and inconsistent protections to switch between services and escalate their abuses.

      Dr. Joanne Gray from the University of Sydney expressed that companies are still in a reactive stance. “They remove content once they find it or are alerted, but they are not doing enough to prevent it from being present in the first place,” she noted.

      It is evident that these companies must improve their efforts to safeguard children. They should recognize children as individuals rather than mere profit sources. Since they are clearly falling short, stronger legislation is necessary to hold them accountable and enhance protections for children online.

      Europe is preparing to implement a broad ban on social media for children.

      The plan proposes to completely prohibit kids under 13 from using social media, while establishing more lenient rules for teenagers up to 18.

      Europe is taking significant action to keep children off social media entirely. A panel of experts has submitted a report to the European Commission recommending extensive new age restrictions, as reported by the New York Times. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is anticipated to present these recommendations as a formal law proposal in September.

      The emerging proposal seeks to impose strict limitations.

      The era of unrestricted access to social media for children may be nearing an end.

      Social media could soon undergo major changes for younger users. What began as a policy trial in Australia has rapidly evolved into a global initiative. Governments worldwide are increasingly questioning the appropriateness of unrestricted social media for children, with over 20 countries currently enforcing, proposing, or actively discussing age-based restrictions. According to an AFP tally, at least five countries have already enacted nationwide restrictions, and several others, including multiple European nations, are poised to follow.

      This momentum arises from escalating concerns regarding social media's impact on children’s mental health, online safety, sleep patterns, and exposure to harmful content. Policymakers are also facing pressure to address issues such as addictive recommendation algorithms, cyberbullying, and the growing prevalence of AI-generated content that complicates online navigation for young users.

      Meta recently discontinued its most controversial AI image generation feature shortly after its launch.

      Meta is presenting this move as "responding to feedback," rather than addressing a consent issue.

      A few days ago, I reported on Meta’s unveiling of Muse Image, an AI tool that permitted users to create images based on someone’s Instagram profile without needing the account owner's permission. In another article, I discussed the associated risks and provided options for opting out. Within three days, the feature has been removed.