The National Crime Agency in Britain has raised significant concerns about the growing threat posed by online groups that encourage teenagers to share and create violent and misogynistic content. These groups have reportedly lured young people into participating in, or inciting others to engage in, severe harm such as self-harm, sexual abuse, or violence. The agency’s director general, Graeme Biggar, highlighted that these activities are not hidden away on the dark web but rather occur on platforms that are commonly used by young people every day. He pointed out a particular danger for young girls who are groomed into causing harm to themselves or, in extreme cases, even pressured to contemplate suicide. The agency’s annual assessment has shown a substantial sixfold increase in reports of such incidents between 2022 and 2024, with notable cases involving grooming, manipulation, and blackmailing of vulnerable individuals, including young boys.
These online communities, referred to as “Com” networks, are vehicles for sharing extreme material and are also places where individuals, particularly young men, are pushed to harm themselves or others to gain status and power. The networks are attracting young males who lean towards nihilistic ideologies and use the forums to validate their extreme behaviors. The agency emphasizes that these groups are likely fostering an inclination towards severe violence among individuals, especially the younger demographic.
The National Crime Agency report underscores that millions of messages related to sexual and physical abuse have been exchanged online in Britain and other western countries. An example cited is Cameron Finnigan, a British teen convicted in January for being part of an online Satanist group involved in coercing children into harming themselves. Finnigan used the Telegram app to push others toward murder and suicide, illustrating the dire consequences of such online activities.
The NCA, in collaboration with technology companies and psychologists, is working to understand the behavior driving these incidents but also encourages parents to engage in regular discussions with their children about their online activities. Jess Phillips, a government minister focusing on combating violence against women and girls, decries the extent of abuse detailed in the report as “absolutely horrific” and strongly advocates for open communication within families. She also calls on technology companies to ensure their platforms are safe for children and to actively work towards protecting the most vulnerable by catching and penalizing offenders.
The issue touches on a broader concern about the misuse of technology and online platforms for criminal activities, including fraud, extremism, and sexual abuse. Statistics from the Internet Watch Foundation, referenced in the agency’s survey, indicate that the number of web pages containing indecent images of children increased by 6 percent in 2024, with a majority being self-generated content or images obtained through manipulation. This data underscores the severity of the challenge and the need for concerted action from all stakeholders to address these growing threats.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/world/europe/online-gangs-teenage-boys-violence.html
