Cyberbullying, Sextortion, and the Pathway to Radicalization
Cyberbullying, Sextortion, and Radicalization are evolving—and they are targeting one of our most vulnerable groups – our youth.
This essential training tackles the difficult realities of cyberbullying, sextortion, and online radicalization, highlighting their evolution in the age of Artificial Intelligence. Drawing on SST case studies, data-driven best practices, and years of hands-on experience, participants will learn the appropriate tools to identify and support our high-risk and vulnerable youth in an effort to understand the impact of these concerns, and to develop proactive prevention and intervention strategies.
Duration: 8 hours
Training Overview
This training centers on three critical concerns affecting youth worldwide: cyberbullying, sextortion, and radicalization. Due to the complex nature of each of these behaviors, a unique approach is needed to identify worrisome behaviors and support victims more effectively. We must ensure we provide relevant education, effective modeling, and coping strategies for all parties.
Whether you are an educator, law enforcement, youth mentor, mental health professional, or concerned community member, this conversation is for you. Let’s work together to recognize the signs, respond effectively, and build safer digital spaces for all.
The Rise of Cyberbullying and Sextortion
As digital communications evolve, cyberbullying, targeted hate, and sextortion are becoming increasingly prevalent among youth.
This training provides you with the current best practices and tools necessary for identifying individuals who may be engaged in, and/or victims of bullying, cyberbullying, and sextortion. By the end of this session, you will have a better understanding of how to best support high-risk/vulnerable youth (HRVY), and access to the necessary tools to ensure an increasingly safe and caring school culture/climate.
Understanding the Pathway to Radicalization
Along with cyberbullying and sextortion, we will explore how extremist spaces like the True Crime Communities (TCC), The 764, and Gore websites/channels may foster radicalization, reinforce harmful ideologies, and escalate an individual’s progression along the pathway to violence.
Utilizing recent case studies handled by SST’s Threat Analysts, we will dive into the connection between online radicalized communities and violent behaviors, factors that make our youth vulnerable to extremist narratives, and highlight key patterns and digital leakage for these concerns. Equip yourself with the knowledge to identify early indicators of radicalization, assess risk enhancers and protective factors, and apply effective strategies for intervention and prevention.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Today's Digital Threats
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool with immense potential, but it also poses significant risks, particularly when it comes to cyberbullying, sextortion, and radicalization.
AI services, which are now widely available to the public, may be used to manipulate images and generate harmful content, making it easier for predators to target and exploit vulnerable youth. To better understand the power of AI and its impact on school communities, University/College campuses, corporations, and law enforcement, it is crucial that teams stay current with evolving AI technology. Following this session, attendees will better understand what AI services are currently available to the public, how they are being utilized, and what risks may be associated with their use.
This Training Will Include:
- Gaining a clear understanding of cyberbullying, sextortion, and digital exploitation
- Identifying worrisome online behavior and understanding the psychological impact on youth
- Recognizing and assessing warning signs by using digital behavioral baseline indicators and language shifts to support individuals who have engaged in and/or experienced cyberbullying, sextortion, and radicalization
- Identifying risk enhancers that contribute to youth vulnerability as well as key groups targeting our high-risk and vulnerable youth (HRVY)
- Examining the role of manipulation in digital spaces, and how trust is often exploited
- Exploring common digital platforms (gaming and social media apps) and their role in sextortion, recruitment, and the normalization of extremist content
- Defining extremism and radicalization within the context of school safety and threat-related behavior
- Understanding how meme culture, influencer extremism, and algorithmic recommendation systems facilitate exposure to harmful ideologies
- Applying multidisciplinary approaches to intervention planning and management for Subjects of Concern
- Learning actionable steps to support victims and prevent further harm
- Exploring the implications of AI in sexual exploitation and effective methods of response
- Reviewing current tools for identifying AI-generated sexual content and protecting against privacy violations
- Understanding the importance of staying connected with high-risk and vulnerable youth (HRVY) and assessing changes in their behavioral baselines
- Applying trauma-informed practices—what trauma is and how it impacts youth
- Reviewing the relationship between school culture/climate and school safety
- Designing and strengthening school codes of conduct, including content to address homophobia, racism, and systemic racism
- Establishing criteria for program selection and implementation (e.g., social-emotional learning)
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