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Perpetrators often have easy access to victims via widely used social media networks, such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. Nowadays, dating applications have provided one more platform where sextortionists identify potential victims and lure them into extortion and victimization. Limited research and media coverage has revealed that sextortion can cause significant harm, with victims reporting negative psychological consequences, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Many empirical findings arise from explorations of webcam sextortion, with limited literature examining sextortion in social media platforms, and particularly online dating sites. In the current, exploratory study, we examine these modern trends directly via an online survey of 102 participants. Overall, 62.7% had been sextorted by another dating application user, and 25.5% experienced failed attempts of sextortion by another dating application user. Results uniquely showed that Tinder, as well as Snapchat, are often used as fishing platforms for identifying sextortion victims. Furthermore, sextortion could be successfully predicted if individuals perceived that the perpetrator "seemed genuinely interested," demonstrating how online dating platforms which specifically target those seeking romantic connections provide an ideal mechanism for perpetrators to fish for victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key digested message Sextortion is currently the highest reported form of image-based sexual abuse, a form of online blackmail which has been growing in prevalence since 2021. Research highlights sextortion to have severe psychological consequences, with over a dozen cases of suicide among victims. This paper used two transcripts from the media of victims' experiences, as well as qualitative survey responses from an additional 99 victims, to explore in detail how sextortion affects victims psychologically. A main theme was low self-esteem leading to depression, within which feelings of hopelessness and negative thinking of oneself were prominent. Another main theme was paranoia causing anxiety, which was characterised by a loss of trust and feeling of not being able to escape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyber bullying (CB) might be relatively new in comparison to School‐Bullying (SB); nonetheless, both types have a negative impact on victims' psychological state. This project investigated CB in the UK and examined the victimisation means, as well as the reasons behind it. Four hundred and eight participants completed an online survey, which includes the 52‐item measure Cyber‐bullying and Online Aggression survey (CBOAS). The survey was advertised on social media and was active for nine months. From the sample, 37.26% reported that they had experienced CB victimisation more than once. Females seem to be more frequently involved in CB, particularly on Facebook and by spreading rumours. Such incidents usually result from arguments in real‐life settings. Many victims were able to stop their CB victimisation by standing up to their CB perpetrators. There are indications that CB functions as a subtype of SB. Implications and limitations are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]