BATON ROUGE — In today’s digital age, children live much of their social lives online. Apps and gaming platforms are where they make friends, trade jokes, and even build communities. But these same spaces can also serve as dangerous hunting grounds for predators and extremist groups such as 764, a nihilistic terror network that federal authorities say is actively targeting young people across the United States.

How Kids Are Lured from One App to Another

One of the most common tactics predators use is shifting children from one platform to another. For instance, a child might meet someone on a gaming platform like Roblox, or on a chat server such as Discord, where communication feels casual and safe. Once a relationship is established, predators often push kids to move conversations to more private apps like Snapchat or Kik, where messages disappear or can be hidden. This “app-hopping” makes it harder for parents to monitor interactions and allows predators to escalate manipulation.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Percy Giles, III, of the FBI explained that groups like 764 prey on vulnerable youth, often coercing them into sextortion, self-harm, or worse.

“They befriend them. It’s all friendly in the beginning,” Giles said. “But once they get those compromising photos, that’s when the blackmail begins. They force these young people to harm themselves or worse. It’s a terrifying cycle, and in many cases, victims are pressured into identifying new targets.”

MORE: Local FBI warns of growing threat from online terror group 764 targeting teen girls

Apps Parents Should Be Most Aware Of

According to law enforcement and digital safety experts, several apps require special attention from parents.

• Snapchat: Widely used by teens, this app allows disappearing messages, but images can still be saved or screenshotted. Its “Snap Map” feature can also reveal a child’s location if privacy settings aren’t carefully managed. Recommended age: 16+.
• Instagram: Popular for photos and videos, Instagram’s messaging and live features can expose kids to strangers. Many children create hidden “finsta” accounts to avoid parental oversight. Recommended age: 16+.
• Discord: Originally a gaming chat platform, Discord is now a hub for both friends and strangers to talk by text, voice, or video. While often safe, it has also been used by predators to groom children. Recommended age: 13+.
• Kik: A messaging app notorious for giving users unlimited access to strangers. Kik has been repeatedly linked to child exploitation cases. Recommended age: not recommended for minors.
• Omegle: Pairs strangers for live chat and is heavily exploited by predators. The FBI warns children should never use this app. Recommended age: 18+ (but unsafe for any child use).
• TikTok: Hugely popular, but privacy controls are limited. Kids can easily encounter explicit content or cyberbullying. Recommended age: 16+ with strong supervision.
• Vault/Secret Apps: Apps designed to hide photos, videos, or other apps make it easy for children to conceal inappropriate or dangerous content from parents.

The FBI says it has more than 250 ongoing investigations into 764-related cases, and victims have been as young as nine. Every one of its 55 field offices, including New Orleans, is handling cases tied to the group. That reality underscores the need for parents to understand the digital spaces their children occupy.

MORE: “Roblox is perpetuating violence against children” | Attorney General Murrill sues Roblox gaming platform

MORE: Parental Involvement: Roblox the latest to put parents in control

How Parents Can Communicate with Their Kids

Experts stress that the most effective safety tool is not an app, but an open and trusting relationship between parents and children. Kati Morse Lebreton, an online safety specialist, advises parents to treat digital devices as responsibilities rather than toys.

“Most kids are going to want to be online. That’s where their social currency is exchanged,” she explained. “It doesn’t mean they’re sneaky or bad—it means that’s where their world is. Parents need to assume kids are more tech-savvy than they are and talk openly about what it means to be online.”

Parents should watch for sudden behavioral changes, such as children withdrawing from friends, abandoning hobbies or sports, or showing signs of shame and secrecy. The FBI warns these can be indicators of exploitation or even suicidal ideation.

Giles emphasized, “If you have an outgoing child, and all of a sudden their behavior starts to shift—that’s a red flag.” He urges parents to ask difficult but direct questions, including whether a child has thoughts of self-harm.

MORE: Local mom discovers predator grooming son via online gaming | “I was blown away by how easily I could’ve lost my son”

Tools to Help Parents Monitor Safely

For families seeking practical support, there are monitoring apps designed to provide oversight without eliminating trust.

• Bark: Monitors texts, emails, and more than 30 apps and social media platforms, alerting parents to potential issues like sexting, online predators, and cyberbullying.
• BrightCanary: Tracks activity on YouTube, Google, TikTok, and more, helping parents identify inappropriate content or unsafe interactions.
• Qustodio and Net Nanny: Offer screen-time management, web filtering, and activity monitoring across multiple devices.

These tools can help parents stay informed, but experts caution they should be combined with ongoing conversations, not used as a replacement for them.

MORE: Metanoia Manor: Young human trafficking victims find hope and healing

A Shared Responsibility

As the FBI intensifies its fight against groups like 764, officials stress that communities, schools, and parents must work together. The digital world is where children now live much of their lives, and predators know it. By staying engaged, setting clear boundaries, using the right tools, and—most importantly—keeping open lines of communication, parents can take proactive steps to protect their children from those who would exploit them.

HELPFUL ARTICLES:

A parents’ guide to TikTok: What parents need to know to keep kids safe

A parents’ guide to Snapchat: What parents need to know to keep children safe

A parents’ guide to Instagram: What parents need to know to keep kids safe

Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area. 

Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today!