The act of coercion through threats, leveraged via the social media platform Facebook, constitutes a serious form of online abuse. This involves an individual attempting to extort something of value money, information, or actions from another person by threatening to reveal damaging or compromising material they possess. An example of this could be the threat to expose private messages or photos if the victim does not comply with the blackmailer’s demands.
The prevalence of social media makes this type of exploitation a significant concern, potentially causing substantial emotional distress, financial loss, and reputational damage to victims. Understanding the mechanisms of such online coercion is essential for mitigating risk and promoting safer online interactions. Its rise mirrors the increasing use of digital platforms for communication and the storage of personal information, creating opportunities for malicious actors.