PROJECT: 764 - RECOGNISING AND RESPONDING TO ONLINE CHILD EXPLOITATION (PART 2)
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WARNING SIGNS, PARENTAL ACTION AND EVIDENCE PRESERVATION
Part 1 examined the development of 764 and related violent online networks, the methods used to establish contact
with vulnerable children, and the confirmed South African connection reported by SAPS in August 2026.
The next issue is practical:
What should parents look for, and what should they do if they suspect that a child is being targeted?
WARNING SIGNS OF POSSIBLE VICTIMISATION:
There is no single behaviour that proves a child is being exploited.
Children can become withdrawn, secretive or irritable for many reasons.
However, a combination of behavioural changes and online warning signs should not be ignored.
The FBI has identified several potential indicators, including sudden behavioural changes, withdrawal from activities, changes in appearance, unexplained injuries, concerning online relationships, threats relating to personal information and unexplained gifts or packages.
1. BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES:
Parents should take note of significant changes such as:
Becoming unusually withdrawn or irritable.
Spending substantially more time alone.
Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities.
Becoming unusually secretive about devices or online activity.
Developing an intense attachment to an online contact.
Becoming distressed when receiving messages.
Changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
Changes in personal appearance or attempts to conceal parts of the body.
These signs should be considered in context rather than treated as proof of criminal activity.
2. PHYSICAL WARNING SIGNS:
Parents should pay attention to unexplained:
Cuts.
Scratches.
Bruises.
Burns.
Bite marks.
Other injuries.
Repeated injuries with no credible explanation.
The FBI has specifically identified unexplained wounds and patterned scars among potential indicators of victimisation in cases involving these networks.
If a child appears to be engaging in self-harm or expresses suicidal thoughts, this requires immediate attention irrespective of whether an online network is involved.
3. DIGITAL WARNING SIGNS:
Parents should investigate further if a child:
Receives threats from an online contact.
Is being blackmailed.
Is asked to send sexual photographs or videos.
Is pressured to perform harmful acts.
Reports that personal information has been published online.
Receives unexplained calls or messages from unknown people.
Is receiving unexplained gifts or packages.
Becomes fearful of a particular online contact.
Creates unexplained additional accounts.
Attempts to conceal applications or online communications.
Doxxing — the publication of personal identifying information without consent — can also be used as an intimidation tactic in online exploitation cases.
CONTENT THAT SHOULD RAISE CONCERN:
Parents should be particularly attentive where there is a sudden and significant interest in:
Self-harm.
Suicide.
Extreme violence.
Animal cruelty.
Gore.
Child sexual-abuse material.
Violent extremist content.
An interest in disturbing material does not establish that a child is involved with 764 or another criminal network.
The concern becomes greater when such content appears alongside threats, secrecy, unexplained injuries, suspicious online relationships or requests to create harmful material.
REVIEWING YOUR CHILD'S DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT:
Parents should know which applications and platforms their children use.
Depending on the child's age and circumstances, this may include reviewing:
Discord servers and direct messages.
Telegram groups and communications.
Gaming friends and private messages.
Multiplayer servers and associated chat functions.
Snapchat contacts and communications.
Instagram direct messages.
Other messaging and social-media accounts.
Parents should also establish whether a child has:
Multiple accounts.
Unknown online contacts.
Private groups or servers.
Conversations with significantly older individuals.
Applications that conceal files or communications.
Accounts that parents were not previously aware of.
Monitoring should be appropriate to the child's age, circumstances and level of risk.
The objective is not to treat every child as a suspect.
The objective is to identify circumstances in which the child may require protection.
IF YOU DISCOVER SOMETHING CONCERNING:
The first response is important.
Remain calm.
Speak to the child privately.
Establish whether they are currently safe.
Ask who they have been communicating with and whether anyone has threatened or pressured them.
Avoid immediately blaming the child.
A child who has already been manipulated may be reluctant to disclose further information if they believe they will be punished.
The priority is to obtain enough information to protect the child and determine what further action is required.
DO NOT CONFRONT THE SUSPECT:
Parents should not attempt to confront or threaten an online perpetrator.
Do not arrange a meeting.
Do not attempt to identify the person through amateur surveillance.
Do not encourage the child to continue communicating simply to obtain more information.
Do not attempt to investigate beyond your competence.
Such actions can increase risk and may interfere with an investigation.
PRESERVE RELEVANT INFORMATION:
Where it is safe and lawful to do so, retain information that may assist investigators.
This can include:
Usernames.
Account names.
Email addresses.
Telephone numbers.
Platform names.
Relevant dates and times.
Threatening messages.
Links.
Information about requests made to the child.
Do not redistribute child sexual-abuse material.
If such material is encountered, do not forward it to other people or accounts.
Obtain guidance from the appropriate authorities regarding reporting and lawful handling of the material.
The FBI similarly advises victims and families to retain identifying information such as usernames, email addresses, websites and platform names when reporting this type of crime.
DO NOT ASSUME THAT BLOCKING THE ACCOUNT SOLVES THE PROBLEM:
Blocking an account can be appropriate in some circumstances, but it should not automatically be regarded as the end of the matter.
If the child has already provided personal information, photographs, videos or other material, the perpetrator may have retained copies.
The offender may also have created additional accounts or contacted the child through another platform.
If threats, extortion, sexual exploitation or coercion are involved, the matter should be reported.
TALK TO CHILDREN BEFORE THERE IS A PROBLEM:
Online safety should not only be discussed after an incident.
Children should understand that:
Online identities can be false.
People may misrepresent their age.
Personal information should be protected.
Private photographs and videos can be copied and redistributed.
No online contact has the right to demand sexual material.
Threats and blackmail should be reported.
They should never follow an online instruction to harm themselves or another person.
They should tell a trusted adult if an online contact makes them uncomfortable or threatens them.
Most importantly, children should know that asking for help will not result in blame or humiliation.
PARENTAL CONTROLS AND MONITORING:
Parental controls can assist parents in managing children's access to applications, websites and communication functions.
However, technology should support parental involvement rather than replace it.
Parents should understand the platforms their children use, establish age-appropriate boundaries and have regular conversations about online behaviour.
The FBI specifically recommends monitoring children's online activity, understanding who they communicate with, using parental controls where appropriate and discussing the risks of sharing personal information, photographs and videos online.
WHEN TO REPORT:
Parents should consider reporting when there are indications of:
Child sexual exploitation.
Sextortion.
Blackmail.
Threats.
Self-harm coercion.
Violence.
Animal cruelty.
Doxxing or other serious intimidation.
The distribution or threatened distribution of sexual material involving a minor.
If a child is in immediate danger, contact SAPS or emergency services immediately.
In South Africa, SAPS Crime Stop can be contacted on 08600 10111, and Childline South Africa can be contacted on 116.
Where circumstances involve complex digital evidence, multiple jurisdictions, serious threats or suspected organised online exploitation, specialist investigative assistance may also be appropriate.
Online child exploitation requires the same fundamental approach as other forms of crime: recognise the indicators,
protect the victim, preserve relevant evidence and report the matter through the appropriate channels.
The existence of 764 and related networks demonstrates that children can be targeted through platforms they use every day.
Parents therefore have an important role in prevention.
Know which platforms your child uses.
Understand who they communicate with.
Discuss online relationships and privacy.
Pay attention to significant behavioural changes.
Take threats, blackmail and unexplained injuries seriously.
And if you discover evidence of exploitation, protect the child first and deal with the investigation
through the appropriate authorities and qualified professionals.
Online safety is now an integral part of child protection.
Awareness, early intervention and evidence-based action can reduce the opportunity for offenders to exploit vulnerable children.
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