I want to talk to you, mom-to-mom—no sugarcoating, no judgment—just one worried heart reaching out to another.
You may have heard about Bradyn Bhon, the sweet 15-year-old boy who took his own life after being targeted by online predators. It’s a story that hit me in the gut. Bradyn was manipulated by someone pretending to be a friend online. They convinced him to share a private image, then turned around and demanded money, threatening to send that image to his parents and friends if he didn’t pay.
Bradyn was terrified. And in that moment of panic and shame, he thought he had no way out.
This is happening to kids everywhere—good kids, smart kids, our kids.
Teen sextortion is a growing crisis, impacting children around the world. In 2023 alone, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 26,718 reports of financial sextortion, up from 10,731 reports in 2022. Additionally, Sextortion has been connected to at least 30 deaths of teen boys by suicide since 2021, according to a tally of private cases and the latest FBI numbers from cybersecurity experts. Even more alarming is that the teens died within 24 hours of being threatened, although the time was often much shorter.
If these stats made your stomach drop, you’re not alone. Mine did too.
So here’s what I’ve learned—and what I hope we all start doing, yesterday:
💬 1. Talk Early, Talk Often
Our kids need to hear from us before they hear from strangers online. And we can’t just have one conversation—we have to keep it going. I started with something like: “There are people online who pretend to be friends, but they’re not. They trick kids into sending pictures, then try to scare them. If that ever happens, I need you to come to me right away—no matter what. You won’t be in trouble.”
Make your home the safe space. Shame is the predator’s sharpest weapon. Let’s take it away from them.
🔍 2. Be Aware—Not a Helicopter
I get it. We don’t want to be overbearing. But we do need to know what apps they’re on, who they’re talking to, and when they’re online. Most sextortion attempts happen at night—so phones out of bedrooms might feel like a fight at first, but it’s a fight worth having.
Let’s be involved, not invasive. Ask about their online world the same way we ask about school or sports.
🚫 3. Teach Them to Say No (and That It’s OK to Mess Up)
Make sure they know: Never send photos or videos that show private areas, even if someone says “everyone’s doing it” or threatens them.
And if they already have? They need to know it’s never too late to come forward. “You’re not bad. You’re not broken. You’re not alone.”
🛑 4. If the Worst Happens…
Here’s what we need to tell them before they panic:
- Don’t pay the blackmailers. It won’t make them go away.
- Save screenshots and any info you can.
- Block the predator.
- Tell someone. Preferably you.
- Report it. You can contact your local police and submit a tip to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (1-800-THE-LOST).
👩👧 5. Keep the Door Open
This one’s the hardest and most important. They need to know that our love doesn’t have conditions. That if they come to us scared, hurt, ashamed—we won’t yell or shut down. We’ll hold them and say, “We’ll figure this out together.”
Bradyn’s story should never have ended the way it did. But we can honor him by making sure our children never feel that alone.
Let’s talk to our kids today—not out of fear, but out of fierce, protective love.
LOCAL RESOURCES:
Adolescent Health Classes Offered by the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana!
Thanks to funding from the Monroe City School Board, the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana is offering free educational health classes for youth—led by Registered Nurses and packed with real-life tools every teen needs.
Topics include:
✅ Personal Safety
✅ Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention
✅ Healthy Relationships
✅ STDs & Prevention
✅ Smart Decision-Making
✅ Abstinence Education
✅ Cyber Safety
These classes empower students to make informed, confident, and safe choices in a fast-changing world. Because when teens are educated, they’re unstoppable. 💪📚
For more information, contact the Children’s Coalition or ask your school about participation!
#YouthEmpowerment #TeenHealth #ChildrensCoalition #MonroeCitySchools
💚 The Center for Children & Families: Compassionate Counseling for Real-Life Challenges
At the Center for Children & Families, we offer licensed, evidence-based mental health counseling to help children, teens, and families heal, grow, and thrive. Whether at home, in our offices, or through telehealth, we meet you where you are—with dignity, respect, and hope.
Our counselors help children and teens:
🧠 Manage anger, anxiety, and depression
💔 Cope with bullying, trauma, or loss
🏠 Improve behavior at home and school
💬 Build self-esteem and social skills
🛡 Heal from abuse or neglect
🔄 Navigate big life changes like divorce or the death of a loved one
You don’t have to face it alone—support starts here.
#CenterForChildrenAndFamilies #MentalHealthSupport #HopeForHealing #StrongerTogether
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