Latest news with #teenmentalhealth
News.com.au
a day ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Sexting criminals linked to suicide of Aussie teen nabbed in Nigeria in AFP sting
A sinister group of organised criminals who allegedly preyed on young Australian teens, including a 16-year-old boy who suicided, have been nabbed in an international sting targeting online sextortion. Two of the 22 suspects nabbed in Nigeria are linked to the death of the child in NSW in 2023. The AFP worked with the FBI, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to shut down the group allegedly responsible for a wave of sextortion targeting thousands of teenagers globally. The network's scheme, which coerced victims into sharing sexually explicit images before threatening to distribute those images unless payment was made, had devastating consequences. In the United States alone, more than 20 teenage suicides have been linked to sextortion-related cases since 2021. While many victims were based in North America, the ripple effects of the offending extended to Australia and other nations. During the operation, two AFP investigators deployed in Nigeria were able to trace online activity, link digital evidence to suspects, and assist in the identification of both perpetrators and victims. Investigators from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) also provided expert analysis on data seized by foreign law enforcement and supported processes to avoid overlap with local investigations. Their efforts created a measurable result locally – in the 2023–2024 financial year, the ACCCE received a total of 58,503 reports of online child exploitation, including 1554 sextortion-related reports. These figures reflect the growing sophistication and volume of online abuse attempts targeting Australian children. The targeting of Australian children by offenders online remains ongoing however, and the ACCCE continues to receive reports of sextortion from members of the community. AFP Acting Commander Ben Moses, who leads the ACCCE, described the outcome as a powerful example of what could be achieved through international co-operation. 'This global operation sends a clear message to those who exploit children online. Law enforcement is united and determined to find you — no matter where you hide,' Acting Commander Moses said. 'These crimes are calculated and devastating, often pushing vulnerable young people into extreme distress. 'Thanks to the co-ordinated action of our partners, we achieved meaningful results including an immediate and significant reduction in sextortion reports across Australia.' While a reduction in reports is encouraging, the AFP warns the risks to children and young people remain and the community should be vigilant about online safety. The AFP continues to work with state and territory police to support victims of sextortion and other malicious online activity. Victim support includes referrals to specialist mental health services, as well as collaboration with online platforms to have harmful content removed. The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping online child sexual exploitation, and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combating child abuse. The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment. The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program has developed the online blackmail and sexual extortion response kit aimed at young people, aged 13 to 17, and is available from the ThinkUKnow and ACCCE websites. The ACCCE has also created a dedicated sextortion help page with resources and information on how to report sextortion.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
$150,000 KeyBank Gift Supports Teen Mental Health and Wellness Throughout Hudson Valley
A $150,000 gift from KeyBank Foundation will support teen mental health and wellness initiatives over the next three years as part of Family Services' Youth Programming. Funds will be used to develop innovative, enhanced after-school programming aimed at fostering healthy connections and preventing behavioral health challenges. 'Everyone needs a little help from time to time, especially the youth in our communities,' said John Manginelli, Hudson Valley/Metro NY President, KeyBank. 'To support this program with Family Services, which provides teens with the resources they need in a way they will be receptive to receiving them, is a great way to promote KeyBank's commitment to help people live well and thrive.' 'KeyBank Foundation is committed to supporting organizations and programs that prepare individuals for thriving futures. Family Services' enhanced youth programming does just this. It is a transformative approach to teen behavioral health that helps kids realize their promise and aligns perfectly with our philanthropic priorities of neighbors, education and workforce,' said Eric Fiala, CEO, KeyBank Foundation. According to a 2023 article by the US Center for Disease Control, in the 10 years leading up to the pandemic, feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness in young people—as well as suicidal thoughts and behaviors—increased approximately 40% percent. In the Hudson Valley, the percentage of children with serious emotional disability grew from 15% to 38%. Additionally, the City of Poughkeepsie continues to face gun violence; in 2024,16 people were shot, 6 of whom were teenagers. When youth face exposure to trauma such as community violence and other adverse childhood experiences, it can lead to significant behavioral health needs, poor social outcomes, health disparities and educational deficiencies if left unaddressed. 'At Family Services our north star is ensuring everyone has the right to thrive. For the youth we serve, that includes meeting increasing behavioral health needs,' said Leah Feldman, CEO, Family Services. 'We're grateful for KeyBank's continued support and commitment to help us deliver on our reimagined model for improving mental health outcomes for teens so they can reach their fullest potential.' Family Services is planning to welcome their first participants in the summer of 2025. Recruitment for the new program will occur in several ways, including outreach to youth and parents involved in Family Services' Teen Resource Activity Center programming, referrals from Poughkeepsie City School District, referrals from Family Services partner agencies within the Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet and community outreach. For more information, visit the Family Services website at or call 845-452-1110 x3192. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from KeyBank
Fast Company
7 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Is doomscrolling really that bad for teenagers' mental health?
Fast Company explores the complicated truth about the effect social media has on this generation's teen population. The final deadline for Fast Company's Brands That Matter Awards is Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Forbes
10-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Could AI Mitigate Mental Health Concerns For Teen Social Media Use?
ANKARA, TURKIYE - MARCH 25: In this photo illustration, Meta logo is being displayed on a mobile ... More phone screen in Ankara, Turkiye on March 25, 2025. (Photo by Ismail Aslandag/Anadolu via Getty Images) Meta recently announced it will be using artificial intelligence to detect teen accounts on Instagram, identify whether they are lying about their age and then switch their accounts from standard to teen accounts. AI will use engagement data as well as signals for users that are under the age of 18 to switch their account settings to those of teens. Instagram accounts of teens are more restrictive; they are private, strangers cannot send them messages and the content that they have access to is limited. This could have very positive effects on teen mental health and reduce the risks of cyberbullying which has detrimentally affected mental health. A 2019 UK Millennium Cohort Study found increased social media use to be associated with higher levels of cyberbullying, poor sleep, low self-esteem and depressive symptoms. But are the AI changes enough to halt the mental health crisis amongst teens? A recent Pew Survey found that nearly half (48%) of teens say that social media has a negative effect on people their age, but only 14% think it negatively affects them personally. In addition, teens are spending enormous amounts of time online and in front of screens, with 90% of teens reporting being online for an average of nine hours per day, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. A major issue with social media, including Instagram, is the way the platforms use likes, notifications and comments in their algorithms to perpetuate addictive and compulsive behaviors in youth. This invariably leads to teens constantly checking their screens and potentially seeking validation from peers and friends. There is also a growing body of evidence that is demonstrating physical changes in the teen brain with respect to increased social media use. Distinct changes have been shown in teens who frequently use social media in the amygdala, which is responsible for emotional learning as well as the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that moderates social behavior and impulse control. The more teens are on screens and social media platforms, the more sensitive these areas of the brain can become with respect to social rewards and punishments. Although Meta has made a laudable step in regulating social media for teens, its use of AI does not address the addictive or compulsive component of social media that could have devastating effects on the developing brain. Although likes and comments can be manually turned off, not all parents and teens opt for that feature when using social media. Solving the mental health crisis as it pertains to teen social media use will require much more than AI, although AI can certainly help mitigate some of the harm that repeated use has cost our youth. Parents and children must work together to use social media most optimally. Online platforms are not going away, and many teens find them useful to connect with friends and express themselves. Parents can play an important role by having transparent conversations with their kids about social media use, and taking social media breaks such as at dinner when social media use could be prohibited. Finally, parents should be pro-active in assessing whether the mental health of their children is deteriorating, such as changes in mood or unexplained poor performance in school. Addressing social media use in teens will take a village, and AI could be part of but not the whole solution.
