The Dark Side of Social Media: Predators, Exploitation, and the Role of Parents

---

The internet should be a playground, not a hunting ground. Every post, every click, and every share has consequences—because while predators are watching, so must we.

---

The internet has become a powerful tool for communication, creativity, and social connection. But beneath the surface, it harbors dangerous spaces where predators exploit children, using sophisticated methods to spread and consume illegal content. Our recent investigation, sparked by disturbing discoveries on the Threads profile @nicoevangelos_, reveals a hidden world where adult men post explicit and predatory comments under posts by minors—some openly labeled as underage. These revelations underscore the urgent need for awareness, stronger protections, and a shift in how we share content online, particularly as parents.

The Methods of Online Predators

According to Europol and the European Commission, predators have become increasingly strategic in how they operate. The internet provides anonymity, allowing them to build communities where they exchange explicit material and tactics for grooming children. Many of these predators use encrypted platforms, private social media groups, and even the dark web to trade content or engage in illegal activities. Some groups require an “entry fee”—often newly created child sexual abuse material (CSAM)—to gain access to hidden forums. The demand for such content fuels more abuse, creating a cycle of exploitation that spans international borders (European Commission, 2024).

The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) reports that predators are not only consumers of CSAM but often seek direct contact with children. They use “grooming” techniques, which involve befriending minors online, gaining their trust, and then manipulating them into sharing inappropriate images or engaging in illicit activities (ICMEC, 2024). Many of these interactions begin in seemingly harmless ways—through comments, compliments, or attention that young users, unfamiliar with the dangers, may not immediately recognize as predatory (ICMEC, 2024).

How Content is Spread and Monetized

Social media platforms make it dangerously easy for exploiters to find and interact with minors. Some predators save and share public photos of children, often from seemingly innocent sources—such as family-friendly Instagram accounts, personal Facebook profiles, or even TikTok dance videos.

Reports from Europol and ICMEC confirm that predators are known to “recontextualize” images—meaning they take innocent pictures of children and share them in inappropriate forums, often with added sexualized comments or edited modifications. Some offenders even trade these images in “collector circles”, where they are rated and commented on within disturbing online communities (Europol, 2024).

Moreover, technology has enabled the monetization of child abuse. Some criminals charge for access to illegal content, conduct live-streamed abuse sessions, or engage in sextortion—where they manipulate victims into providing explicit content under the threat of exposure. The growth of end-to-end encrypted messaging apps and cryptocurrency transactions has made it increasingly difficult for law enforcement to track these offenders (European Commission, 2024).

Why Parents Must Rethink Posting Their Children Online

Given these dangers, parents must reconsider how they share content about their children online. Every public image, no matter how innocent it may seem, has the potential to be misused. ICMEC and Europol warn that predators actively search for and save images of children, even from everyday family posts. A simple beach photo, a child’s first day at school, or a dance recital video can be repurposed and distributed in ways that parents never intended (ICMEC, 2024).

Key reasons to limit posting pictures of children online:

• Loss of Control: Once an image is online, it can be copied, shared, and stored indefinitely—even if deleted.

• Metadata Risks: Some photos contain GPS data, revealing the exact location where they were taken.

• Artificial Intelligence & Deepfakes: With AI-powered image modification tools, even innocent images can be altered into explicit content.

• Predator Attraction: Some offenders target specific children they find online, attempting to initiate contact through comments or private messages.

  
  

What Can Be Done?

1. Strengthen Awareness & Education

Parents, schools, and children themselves must be educated on digital safety, the risks of sharing personal content, and the tactics used by predators. Organizations like ICMEC provide global training programs and guidelines on how to protect minors in the digital world (ICMEC, 2024).

2. Push for Stronger Regulations

The European Union has introduced new policies to combat online child abuse, including increased cooperation with tech companies and law enforcement to detect and remove CSAM (European Commission, 2024). More global efforts, such as those led by WePROTECT Global Alliance, work to improve legislation and technological solutions (European Commission, 2024).

3. Report & Monitor Online Activity

If you come across disturbing content or predatory behavior, report it immediately through platforms like:

• Europol’s Child Sexual Exploitation Division (Europol)

• Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) (IWF)

• National Reporting Hotlines (varies by country)

  
  

Additionally, parents should regularly monitor their children’s online activity, discuss safe internet practices, and ensure their profiles remain private.

Conclusion: A Collective Responsibility

The fight against online child exploitation is not just a law enforcement issue—it is a collective responsibility. Social media platforms must do more to protect minors, governments must enforce stricter regulations, and parents must be cautious about how they share content. The digital world is a powerful space, but without vigilance, it can become a hunting ground for predators.

By raising awareness and taking preventive actions, we can create a safer internet—one where children are protected, not preyed upon.

Sources:

• European Commission (2024): Protecting children from online abuse (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu)

• International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (2024): Reports on online grooming and CSAM (icmec.org)

• Europol (2024): Online child exploitation and law enforcement efforts (europol.europa.eu)