Authorities have issued a warning over a disturbing rise in online crime networks targeting young girls and coercing them into acts of violence against themselves, family members, or pets. The behaviour, described as a “twisted form of gamification,” marks a new and alarming trend in digital gender-based violence.
A newly established task force has been formed to combat the growing threat, which involves individuals with extremist ideologies who exploit social media and gaming platforms to manipulate and recruit vulnerable minors. These online predators, often referred to as “crimefluencers,” are typically young men in their late teens or early twenties. They lure pre-teen and teenage girls through popular platforms such as Roblox, Discord, and Telegram.
According to investigators, the perpetrators are driven not by financial gain or sexual motives but by the desire to cause harm for entertainment or to gain notoriety online. Many of them are associated with extremist beliefs, including nihilism, sadism, Nazism, and satanism. They deliberately target girls struggling with low self-esteem or mental health challenges, creating a cycle of manipulation and psychological abuse.
Authorities have already identified dozens of suspected offenders across Australia, with several arrests made both locally and internationally. The scale of the operation suggests that these online gangs operate as interconnected global networks. Law enforcement agencies from the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada are working together under a coordinated effort to identify and dismantle these groups.
In response, tech companies are collaborating with authorities to develop advanced artificial intelligence tools capable of detecting coded language, emojis, and slang used in encrypted communications between offenders. The new technology aims to help identify and prevent cases of sadistic online exploitation before they escalate.
The warning comes as Australia prepares to enforce a social media ban for children under 16 starting in December, a world-first measure aimed at reducing online harm. However, the new regulations will not cover gaming and messaging apps—platforms where most of this exploitation is believed to occur.
Authorities continue to urge parents to stay vigilant and engage with their children about online safety, stressing the importance of monitoring their digital interactions to prevent further incidents of manipulation and abuse.
