#TakeCtrl of your online space now
Your digital world. Your rules. Your power.
What is sexual extortion?
Sexual extortion (online sextortion) involves blackmailing someone through the use of sexualized images of that person, in order to extort sexual acts or material, money, or other benefits from them under the threat of sharing the material without the consent of the depicted person (e.g. posting images on social media).[1]
In plain language, sextortion is blackmail using technology:
- For money
- For more content (of self or others)
- To abuse IRL
- To control
- And it affects both young people and adults too.
Meet Your #TakeCtrl Friends!
Hi! My name is Maya.
I'm 15, and I love scrolling Tiktok, watching funny memes or even listening to other people’s thoughts. This is my forever crew: 👧🏾 Jo and 👦🏻 Tim. We've been besties since darjah 6 - literally grew up together!
We have a group chat where we always share videos that we find funny, interesting and sometimes relatable. However, not long ago, I watched our best friend, Jo, go through something terrifying online. She felt trapped, ashamed, and completely alone.
Honestly? Tim and I... we didn't know what to do either. It was a wake-up call. We realized that 'be safe online' is easy to say, but what does it really mean when you or a friend is in trouble? We had to learn, fast. We learned how to spot the signs, how to talk about it, and that it is never, ever the victim's fault.
Maya: I first learned about sexual extortion on TokTik, which led me to research the concept of 'misuse of power.' It's when someone manipulates your trust to control you. This became real when I saw my best friend, Jo, was hurting.
I learned that being a good friend means listening without judgment and helping them find confidential, professional help. We're here to do the same for you.
Jo: I've been there. I know how scary and isolating it feels, and I used to feel ashamed. But I learned that it wasn't my fault. Talking to someone was the hardest, bravest step I ever took to take my power back. You don't have to go through this alone.
Tim: As a gamer and content creator, I see weird interactions in chats and DMs all the time. Being an ally isn't just about being a nice person; it's about actively spotting the red flags and creating a respectful environment online.
We all have a part to play in keeping our friends, like Jo, safe.
Oyen: We know the hardest part is figuring out what to do next. If something doesn’t feel right online, you can report it on the platform to request to remove the concerning materials and block the perpetrator, talk to a trusted adult, reach out to the authorities, or call helplines like Talian Kasih.
Speaking up protects you and others. Staying silent only benefits the perpetrator.
We built this space to share what we learned. Whether you're feeling scared and need help, or you want to be a better friend, you're in the right place. You don't have to figure this out alone.
This is our world, and we get to set the rules. I worked with Jo and Tim to create this page so we can all learn to #TakeCtrl together. This page is a promise: You have power. You have support. And you are not alone in this.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
#TakeCtrl campaign is curated by young people for young people to create awareness about Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA), with specific focus on sexual extortion, and to empower young people to make informed choices, avoid risks and find help when needed.
In Malaysia, roughly 4% or 100,000 internet-using children were subjected to various forms of OSCEA, which includes receiving pornographic content, being blackmailed to engage in sexual activities, being groomed, or having their sexual images shared non-consensually. Specifically, 1% of children said they had been subjected to sextortion, and another 3% did not answer the question, which may indicate under-reporting due to sensitivity.
Up to 50% of the children who had these experiences of OCSEA or other unwanted sexual experiences on the Internet did not tell anyone. Those who did so were most likely to confide in a friend, a sibling or a caregiver. Only one reported the incident to a helpline, and none reported to the police or to a social worker. Very few children turned to formal mechanisms like hotlines, helplines or the police.
For children who had not told anyone, they say that they did not know where to go or whom to tell. In fact, 56% of all the children surveyed said they did not know where to get help if they or a friend were subjected to sexual harassment or abuse. With respect to online reporting, 34% of the children surveyed did not know how to report harmful content on social media.
If you or someone you know feel uncomfortable, please reach out to trusted adult or you can reach out to support services:
Helplines:
| 📞 Talian Kasih 15999 | 24/7 support for abuse, violence, and emotional distress📱 WhatsApp: 019-261 5999 |
| 📱 WhatsApp: 019-261 5999 | |
| 📞 Buddy Bear Helpline | For children and teens (ages 6–18) needing emotional support |
| 🕒 6 PM – 12 AM daily | |
| 📞 1-800-18-BEAR (2327) | |
| 🌐 humankind.my/buddybear-info | |
| 📞 Befrienders KL | 24/7 emotional support and suicide prevention |
| 📞 03-7627 2929 | |
| 🌐 befrienders.org.my | |
| 📞 Talian HEAL 15555 | Mental health tele-counseling (5 PM – 9 AM) |
| 📞 15555 | |
| 📞 Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) | Domestic violence/sexual abuse of women and children |
| 🕒 Hotline (M-F: 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun: 8am-4pm): 📞+603 30008858 | |
| 📱 SMS/WhatsApp TINA (24 hours): +6018 988 8058 | |
| 🌐 wao.org.my |
In-person reporting of violence, sexual abuse:
- The nearest Police station/Hospital, OR
- 📞 Malaysia Emergency Response Services (MERS): 999 or 112 (for any call even with no mobile phone credit, and it will be redirected to 999 response centres)
For reporting online incidents/materials:
| Cyber999 | Malaysia Emergency Response Team (MyCERT): report computer security incidents |
| 🌐 MyCERT : Online Form or via email to [email protected] | |
| 📱 Cyber999 App (available on Google Play and on the App Store) | |
| 📞 Office Hours: 1-300-88-2999 | |
| 📞 Emergency (24 hours): DDOS/ Phishing/ Data Breach) +6019 - 266 5850 | |
| Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) Portal | Report child sexual abuse materials. |
| 🌐 https://report.iwf.org.uk/my_en/ | |
| Content Forum | Report harmful or inappropriate content related to social media platforms, communications and multimedia content, etc. |
| 🌐 https://contentforum.my/make-a-complaint/ | |
| MCMC WhatsApp Tip-Off | Enables users to provide tip-offs on harmful or inappropriate online content, including sharing evidence such as screenshots or links. Offers a quick and familiar way for the public to reach MCMC. |
| 📱 WhatsApp: +6016-2206262 |
