Even 12-Year-Old Children on the Internet Are Becoming Accomplices in Self-Harm

An investigation conducted by the Digital Observation and Analysis Nucleus (Noad) of the São Paulo Civil Police revealed a highly concerning profile of crimes committed on the internet. Research shows that boys between the ages of 12 and 20 act as encouragers and mentors for crimes committed online. The primary targets of these online crime networks are girls aged 6 to 14. As part of the investigation, a 16-year-old Brazilian youth located in France was identified, suspected of being a member of a virtual community that encourages self-harm, suicide, and even attacks on schools and daycare centers. Authorities stated that approximately 90 percent of the investigated suspects are adolescents. This situation reveals how young an audience criminal online communities are influencing in the digital age.

Lisandréa Salvariego Colabuono, the coordinator of Noad, highlighted the core motivation of young people joining these dangerous virtual communities. Many youths join these digital spaces driven by feelings of loneliness or exclusion, seeking to belong and be accepted. However, these young people find the attention they crave not in a supportive manner, but through an appreciation mechanism directed toward committing crimes. The official emphasized that these individuals encounter a sense of belonging and a narrative of validation on the internet, and unfortunately, they are made to earn this acceptance by committing crimes. Therefore, digital criminal organizations exploit the psychological vulnerabilities and social needs of young people for their own illegal purposes. This structure poses a danger of turning young people into perpetrators rather than victims of crime.

On the victims' side, the situation is as tragic as the perpetrators, indicating a systematic operation. According to the authorities' profile, the majority of victims of these online crime networks are girls aged between 6 and 14. Criminals initially approach these children to gain their trust and establish a friendship bond. These contacts are frequently initiated through popular online gaming platforms that allow users to text and voice chat with each other. As the victim's trust is gradually gained, the communication is moved to more private and closed messaging applications, distancing them from parental supervision. Once a bond of trust is fully established, victims are asked for intimate photos and videos, leading to the blackmail and exploitation phase.

Police teams point out that time is extremely critical in combating such crimes. If a child or adolescent is identified as being at risk, for instance during a live broadcast, the teams' top priority is to immediately interrupt the act of violence. In cases recorded in São Paulo, the police team immediately contacts the victim's family. While a police vehicle is directed to the address, specialists guide the parents over the phone, asking them to go to their daughter's room and cut off the broadcast themselves. These instantaneous operations are of vital importance to stop the violence and provide initial intervention. When necessary, in addition to the Civil Police, Military Police and medical rescue teams are dispatched to the area to support the intervention process and provide potential emergency health services.

The combat process is not limited to cutting off the live broadcast or catching the perpetrators red-handed; a long-term follow-up process begins after the victim is rescued. According to Delegate Lisandréa's statements, removing the child from the broadcast is considered just the beginning of the effort. Children and adolescents who have suffered victimization, along with their families, are directed to receive professional support to overcome the traumatic process. In this context, thanks to the collaboration established between the Civil Police and the São Paulo Attorney General's Office (MPSP), families are provided with free psychological counseling services. Experts state that a continuous rehabilitation process is essential to erase the traces of digital exploitation and restructure the family. It is emphasized that to prevent such crimes and help victims hold on to life, not only legal sanctions but also a societal awareness must be established.