Behind the Screen: My Encounter with Wizz and the Hidden Threats of Teen Sextortion. As teenagers use a Tinder-style app called Wizz, it has come to somes attention  of the significant dangers it poses, including the risk of sextortion. This app, which has gained popularity many, is under scrutiny after numerous reports of potential sexual extortion were made to Cybertip.ca, Canada’s national tip line for reporting sexual exploitation of children online. Cybertip.ca has issued warnings to parents about the app, which boasts millions of users globally and markets itself as a platform for spontaneous fun through random chats with people worldwide. Its mechanism, akin to Tinder’s, involves swiping through profiles and pairing users for video chats. Since 2021, there have been over 180 reports specifically mentioning Wizz in connection with financial sextortion and other forms of luring, marking a significant increase in reports compared to the previous year.

A staggering 91 percent of these reports involve sextortion, with boys being the victims in 93 percent of the cases. Most victims are between 15 to 17 years old, highlighting how online predators primarily target kids, teens, and tweens due to their curiosity and lack of a fully developed sense of caution. Technology analyst and journalist Carmi Levy has pointed out the increasing prevalence of digital crimes against this vulnerable age group, driven by their rebellion against parental controls and their eagerness to use technology that their parents may not understand.

Predators on Wizz exploit personal details and other social media profiles of their victims to manipulate them. They often use stolen images to pose as teens, creating a false sense of security that leads to the sharing of nude images or videos. This app encourages users to connect across multiple platforms, increasing the risk of moving interactions to platforms like Snapchat, where kids might feel safer sharing explicit content under the false belief that it will be deleted immediately.

Despite Wizz implementing an age verification system using artificial intelligence, it’s been proven to be imperfect. Female analysts from Cybertip.ca, aged 23 and 25, managed to create accounts as 16-year-old males, raising concerns about the effectiveness of such measures. Wizz’s website claims to segregate users into age-appropriate communities and monitor for any content that violates community guidelines or suggests hazardous behavior. However, the reality of its safety measures remains questionable.

The importance of open communication between parents and their children has been emphasized as the best defense against online extortion. Parents are encouraged to be part of their children’s digital lives, offering a judgment-free zone for discussion to prevent them from becoming easy prey for online predators. Schools, including the English Montreal School Board and the Lester B. Pearson School Board, acknowledge the app’s existence but note the lack of incidents within classrooms due to cell phone bans.

Another social media platform, Discord, is also favored by religious extremists and fanatics seeking to radicalize and indoctrinate the youth.

If a child falls victim to sextortion, immediate action is required to ensure their safety and to neutralize the source of abuse, followed by a thorough examination of the device and prompt reporting to the authorities. Montreal police have received several complaints related to Wizz, but it’s just one of many apps frequented by young individuals. Cybertip.ca advises parents to remove the app from their children’s devices and offers resources for those affected by online sexual exploitation, emphasizing the collective effort needed to protect children in the digital age.

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