Last Updated on July 7, 2023

Discover how to report sextortion on Facebook and get fast help to protect yourself. Despite past scandals involving the sharing of user data, the platform is now being utilized by thousands of cybercriminals for online extortion. Don’t wait to act if you find yourself being threatened by exposure to your intimate content. In this blog, we’ll show you how to report the problem to Facebook and share details about their response time.

How do I report a sextortion on Facebook?

Facebook takes abusive behavior seriously and urges users to speak out. The platform has taken notice of the surging number of reports of sextortion stemming from their platform. With more and more reports of teen suicide, Facebook is ensuring victims are being offered support and help if they find themselves victims. Their Safety Center provides a resource library that discusses topics of bullying, harassment, child protection, etc., and gives users more insight and tips on how to keep themselves protected while online.

So, how does one report sextortion on Facebook? Follow these steps Facebook provides through their Help Center.

1. Click on the photo or video to expand it. If the profile is locked and you can’t view the full-sized photo, click Find support or report photo.

2. Click to the right of the photo or video.

3. Click Report Photo for photos or Report Video for videos.

4. Select the option that best describes the issue and follow the on-screen instructions.

How quickly does Facebook respond to sextortion?

While an exact response time is not provided, Facebook has a dedicated team working around the clock to address these reports. Their Safety Center indicates that they review reports 24/7 in over 70 languages and immediately remove any threatening content. In addition, they use preventative photo-matching technologies to stop further attempts at sharing removed images. If someone tries to share a removed image, Facebook alerts them that it violates their policies and may even disable their account. Rest assured; Facebook is working to keep all users safe and prevent the spread of unauthorized content.

Being that we don’t have a definitive timeframe of when Facebook can respond to online sextortion, we also recommend that victims report the crime to the authorities and cyber security experts. Doing so will give you a more substantial chance of putting the harassment to bed and bringing this criminal to justice. The most Facebook can do with sextortion is remove an account or content; unfortunately, that does not stop a blackmailer from continuing their threats. These criminals create dozens of fake accounts and will quickly use one to continue the endless abuse. That is why you need to bring in experts who know how to handle a case of this nature.

Conclusion

Getting help when it comes to sextortion should be a number one priority. It’s never okay for someone to use your content against you, and it’s important to speak out when this becomes an issue. Facebook is taking steps to ensure that its platform is no longer associated with sextortion and, ultimately, its users be safe and heard. If you find yourself in such a situation, report the crime; notify authorities, cybercrime experts, and sextortion helplines explicitly dedicated to victims. Let’s do our best to end sextortion and keep our online platforms safe for everyone- report sextortion now!