Canadian Sextortion Survivors (Minors) - Impact & Prevention

Investigative journalist reaching out Dear all, My name is Stacey Kuznetsova, I am a reporter working with the Investigative Journalism Bureau – a nonprofit newsroom based at the School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. I am reaching out because for the past few months, my colleague Emma Jarratt and I have been working on an investigation into the sextortion of minors in Canada. We’ve reviewed dozens of cases, where children have been lured into sending intimate photos to predators, and later extorted for money or sexual acts. These led to extreme psychological, social and physical harm, highlighting the need for better education about image-based sexual abuse and better response and prevention frameworks. We are looking to speak with people who have personally experienced sextortion as a minor. It is our hope that these stories will trigger awareness of how sextortion impacts young adults, and how we can better prevent these tragedies from happening in the future. Please note that we are happy to speak off the record, and are committed to protecting your identity should you wish not to reveal your name. If you or someone you know might be open to sharing their story, please contact me at [email redacted]. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Sincerely, Stacey