As a parent, you’re likely doing everything you can to keep your child safe online—but sometimes the digital world can present challenges you never see coming. A group known as 764 has recently drawn national attention for targeting teens and children in deeply manipulative and disturbing ways, taking online threats to a terrifying new level.

While it’s a tough topic to comprehend, awareness is the first line of defense when it comes to your child’s safety. Here, we’ll break down what 764 is, how it operates, which kids may be most at risk, and the steps you can take to help keep your child safe online.

In March of 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) published a report detailing an increase in activity from an online network known as “764”—a group of violent, nihilistic extremists who are targeting teens and children online. The network is thought to have been started by a teenager named Bradley Cadenhead, who created a server called “764” on Discord—an online group chat for gamers—and persuaded others to join him in victimizing and terrorizing teens and minors. (Cadenhead has since been arrested and sentenced to 80 years in prison.)

This deeply disturbing group is not just spreading harmful and inappropriate content online—they aim to groom, manipulate, and exploit the most vulnerable populations. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 764's ultimate goal is “social unrest and the downfall of the current world order, including the United States Government.” 

To date, the FBI has launched over 250 investigations into 764, with all 55 field offices across the country handling a 764-related case. In April 2025, two of the group’s key leaders were arrested.

Like many online predators, 764 members targets kids and teens through publicly available online platforms, including social media sites, mobile apps, and gaming platforms such as Roblox and Discord. The FBI states that victims are typically between the ages of 10 and 17, with some as young as 9 years old.

For many victims, the manipulation begins when the predator establishes a trusting or romantic connection—eventually coercing them into increasingly alarming behavior, including producing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and other videos that include self-harm or animal cruelty. In some cases, victims are pressured to carve symbols into their skin, or make false emergency calls to police in an attempt to bring a SWAT team to a particular address—a practice known as “swatting.” 

Christian Mauro, PhD, associate professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, explains that these adolescent victims are not developmentally prepared for this level of manipulation. “They are going to be susceptible to scary behaviors,” he says. “They're susceptible to flattery or rewards or attention, and they're not going to know how to protect their personal information [online].”

Exploiting this vulnerability, 764 members tend to elicit fear by threatening to share a victim’s explicit or harmful content with family and friends or publicly online, ultimately forcing them to comply with their demands.

What makes online predators like 764 especially dangerous is that they’re not just preying at random—they’re often deliberately searching for children who are hurting, lonely, or looking for someone to talk to. The FBI notes that children and teens who are struggling with mental health issues such as depression, disordered eating, or suicidal thoughts can be at greater risk of being approached by 764 members.

“These children, in particular, are quite vulnerable,” explains Alanna Powers, research and program specialist for the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI). “It can stem from loneliness—so, kids who don't have a close friend and are looking around for somebody to talk to or have a relationship with. Predators can find their way in … They often pretend to be a kid themselves, and act like a helping hand or shoulder to cry on to gain trust.” 

She adds that it is common for young users to be active on platforms designed for older teens and adults, which increases the risk of being targeted by digital predators. “Many of the social media platforms have an age limit of 13,” she says. “Predators can notice that a child is on the younger side, and find an in that way as well.”

Keeping your child safe online starts with early and frequent conversations before something unsafe occurs, says Powers. “You both know that open dialogue is available, and if your child is feeling uncomfortable or unsafe for any reason, they know that they can come to you and have a conversation.”

Here are a few more ways to help protect your children online:

Powers notes that it’s essential to teach your kids how to spot suspicious accounts online by watching for some key red flags: 

More importantly, there are serious warning signs to look out for when communicating with a suspicious account, including: 

Even small shifts in your child’s behavior can be clues that something’s not right in their online world, whether minor or more severe.

Dr. Mauro mentions a few key behaviors to look out for, including: 

While these signs may not always indicate something serious is going on, staying aware and involved can help you step in early if needed, before things escalate further.

In just the last few years, poll findings have shown that nearly one-third of parents of children between the ages of 7 and 9 reported their kids were using social media. Moreover, over half of children have a smartphone by age 11. 

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to allowing smartphones, Dr. Mauro stresses that when the time comes, an open, honest conversation is essential, along with emphasizing the great responsibility that comes with having a phone. “There's a big, wide world out there that's going to be hard to regulate,” he says. “You have to teach them about privacy, personal information, and suspicious people.” 

He adds that determining the why behind the desire for devices is just as important in order to maintain transparency and keep tabs on their online behavior. “When you do introduce [online access], whether it's online gaming or a phone, [it’s important to] understand, ‘What's the purpose, why do you want it? What are you going to use it for?”

Powers notes that it’s crucial to stay alert and aware of what your kids are doing online—and it starts by asking questions. For example, ask them to show you which apps they like to use or what games they like to play, or even play games together. “Things like that keep you involved and [give you] peace of mind,” she says.

Here are a few more preventive measures to take that help ensure the online safety of your child: 

Dr. Mauro also recommends reaching out to other parents when you’re feeling overwhelmed or at a loss. “Parents can feel like [their child’s online access] is too hard to manage,” he says. “[It helps] to find a community that can be on the same page about it.”

Speaking with other parents—especially the parents of your child’s friends—allows you better insight into what games are being played, apps are being used, and what’s important to look out for.

Many children who are being manipulated online often stay quiet out of fear—but you can help by reminding them they’ll never be in trouble for being honest with you.

“Maybe they’ve sent a photo and they feel like they can't say anything, because [they think] they're going to be in huge trouble, and it just keeps building and building,” says Powers. “So, [they need to know] that they won't get into trouble, they are not in the wrong, and they’re a victim of coercion from grown adults who know better and are doing something illegal. I think being very clear about that is incredibly important.”

Along these lines, your child should know it’s not only OK, but encouraged to remove themselves from any online interaction that feels inappropriate. As Powers notes, “It's not rude to block, report, mute, or unfollow someone. If you don't feel comfortable, these options are valid.”

Ultimately, there's no gray area when it comes to predatory behavior online—and your child is never to blame. “[It’s] really helping them understand that if adults are saying these things to you, it's actually a crime, and we need to go to see the police,” says Powers. “I think that kind of lifts that guilt off the shoulders of a child who just doesn't know what to do in that situation.”

By staying informed, maintaining open communication, and taking simple preventive steps, you can help protect your child from online threats—even the ones that aren’t always easy to see.