Care Visions Family Talk - Understanding Sextortion & Protecting Young People

In this powerful and open conversation hosted by Care Visions Family Talk, Dr Linda de Caestecker spoke with Lyndsay McDade, Fearless Lead at Crimestoppers Scotland, about the growing threat of sextortion — a form of online blackmail increasingly targeting young people. Together, they tackled the fear, shame, and silence surrounding this issue, with the goal of equipping parents and carers to better protect the young people in their lives.

Lyndsay brought over 20 years of experience in the third sector and a deep commitment to youth-led work to the discussion. Since launching Crimestoppers' youth service Fearless in Scotland in 2016, she has championed lived experience and meaningful youth co-production. Over the past year, she led the development of a nationwide campaign on sextortion, which reached millions across youth-focused platforms and provided dedicated resources for both young people and the adults who support them.

This session explored:

• How sextortion typically happens and how online predators manipulate trust
• Warning signs to look out for
• Ways to open up honest, preventative conversations
• Tips for helping teens stay safer online

Listeners came away with a greater understanding of how to respond to this threat with confidence and compassion, as well as insight into a vital campaign making a real impact across Scotland.