Child Safety
Documented cases where digital platforms caused harm to children and minors — including sextortion, online grooming, exposure to CSAM, dangerous viral challenges, and violations of children's privacy laws.
Based on incidents with a reported US location. Geographic coverage reflects what has been documented, not the full distribution of harm.
Recent Incidents
14-year-old girl groomed via social media by Sydney private school teacher leading to child abuse material charges
12-year-old girl sexually groomed via TikTok leading to out-of-state assault in Binghamton, New York
9-year-old girl dies after attempting blackout challenge on YouTube
13-year-old Louisiana girl exposed to AI-generated nude deepfake images leading to expulsion and federal lawsuit against school district
12-year-old girl groomed and coerced into self-harm and producing child sexual abuse materials via social media in New Jersey
37 children aged 10–16 sexually groomed and blackmailed via WhatsApp and Snapchat message recordings leading to 69 offence convictions and eight-year youth prison sentence
13-year-old Alabama girl lured to Georgia by online impersonator leading to four-day disappearance
45-year-old man threatens and attempts to exploit teenage acquaintance via fake social media account leading to felony charges
18-year-old girl in Maharashtra blackmailed and extorted via Instagram video call leading to ₹18,000 ransom demand and harassment by impersonating CBI officer
13-year-old girl sexually groomed via Snapchat messages leading to four-year prison sentence for offender
Related Legislation
Senate Bill 1090 - Protecting Children from Harmful AI Chat Interactions
SB 372 — Enacting The App Store Accountability Act To Regulate App Store And Developer Operations With Respect To Minors, Create Requirements For Age Verification And Parental Consent And Provide For Enforcement Under The Kansas Consumer Protection Act An
SF 2159 — A Bill For An Act Relating To Materials Used For Prurient Purposes, Including Age Verification Requirements For Certain Commercial Entities, Prohibitions On The Publication, Distribution, Creation, Or Development Of Prohibited Material, And Proh
HB 2392 and HB 3393 - Missouri Teen Social Media and AI Age Verification Proposals
HF 712 — A Bill For An Act Relating To Social Media Data Collection Regarding Children Under Eighteen Years Of Age, Providing Civil Penalties, And Including Applicability Provisions
Commission opens child grooming and safety probe of Snapchat
EU investigation into Snapchat and adult content websites under the Digital Services Act
HB 1782 — Relating To Artificial Intelligence For The Protection Of Minors
Related Litigation
In re: Roblox Corporation Child Sexual Exploitation and Assault Litigation
RODRIGUEZ v. ROBLOX CORPORATION
RODRIGUEZ v. ROBLOX CORPORATION
Merriman, as Parent and Natural Guardian of D.M, A Minor v. Roblox Corporation
IN RE: Roblox Corporation Child Sexual Exploitation and Assault Litigation
Edwards v. TikTok Inc.
IN RE: Roblox Corporation Child Sexual Exploitation and Assault Litigation
Brown v. Roblox Corporation