It's a parent's worst nightmare, and it's happening in towns and cities right across Australia.New research reveals shocking extent of online predatory behaviour targeting young Australians.New research from the Australian Institute of Criminology has revealed that more than one in 10 Australian teenagers aged 16-18 have fallen victim to sexual extortion — a figure that has shocked experts and parents alike.The landmark study, conducted in partnership with eSafety, surveyed nearly 2,000 teenagers about their online experiences.What they found paints a disturbing picture of predatory behaviour that knows no boundaries, whether you live in Sydney, Melbourne, or a small country town."This isn't happening 'somewhere else' — it's happening everywhere," says cybersafety expert Sarah Mitchell, who has worked with families across regional Australia."Predators don't care if you're in a city of five million or a town of 5,000. If your child has internet access, they're potentially at risk."The research findings are confronting, nearly 60 per cent of victims were under 16 when the abuse began. One in three experienced it multiple times.More than 40 per cent were threatened with fake, digitally created images.Almost two-thirds were targeted by complete strangers online.Perhaps most concerning is the gender divide.Boys were more likely than girls to be targeted — often for money rather than just images — but were far less likely to seek help."The traditional view that this only happens to girls is completely wrong," explains Dr James Patterson, a researcher who has studied online exploitation patterns. "Boys are being targeted at alarming rates, but they're not talking about it."Regional communities have long prided themselves on being safe places to raise children. But the internet has changed that equation entirely."I thought living in a small town would protect my son," says Emma, a mother from regional New South Wales who asked not to use her real name."But when he was 15, someone overseas got hold of photos and threatened to send them to everyone at his school. It didn't matter that we live in a town of 3,000 people — the threat felt just as real."The anonymity and global reach of the internet means predators can target children anywhere.A teenager in rural Queensland is just as vulnerable as one in inner-city Brisbane.Experts say the key to fighting sexual extortion lies in breaking down the shame and silence that surrounds it."Predators rely on victims feeling too embarrassed or scared to tell anyone," said Dr Lisa Cameron, a child psychologist who works with online abuse survivors. "They count on kids thinking they'll get in trouble, or that somehow it's their fault."The research backs this up. Many victims reported feeling too ashamed to seek help, with boys particularly reluctant to disclose what had happened to them.Child safety advocates argue that the traditional approach to online safety education — usually a single school assembly or brief classroom discussion — is completely inadequate for the scale of the problem."We wouldn't teach kids about road safety once a year and expect them to be safe," says Mitchell."Yet that's exactly what we're doing with online safety, despite the fact that these threats are constantly evolving."Instead, experts are calling for what they term "safety systems" — regular, ongoing conversations at home and school that normalise talking about online threats and make it clear that victims won't be blamed or punished.The message from experts is clear: every parent needs to be prepared, regardless of where they live.Key advice includes having regular, non-judgmental conversations about online experiencesMaking it clear that children won't get in trouble for reporting threatsTeaching the safety sequence; collect evidence, block the person, never pay anything, and tell a trusted adult immediatelyUnderstanding that this can happen to any child, regardless of age, gender, or locationParents should also be aware of the warning signs that their child might be targeted. These include someone online who moves too quickly to private conversations, makes excuses about their webcam not working, or pressures for sexual content with faces visible in photos.Experts warn the tactics are becoming more sophisticated, seeing fake AI-generated images being used as threats, and predators who spend time friending multiple people from a victim's school or community to appear legitimate.They put forward a stark warning; a predator sitting in another country can target a child in rural Australia just as easily as one in a major city.As more research emerges about the scale of sexual extortion in Australia, one thing is becoming clear: this is not a problem that can be solved with awareness alone.We need to get brave enough to have the uncomfortable conversations and make the systematic changes needed to protect children.For families in small towns across Australia, that reality is particularly stark.The very communities that once offered natural protection now find themselves navigating threats that can reach their children through a screen.But experts remain hopeful that with the right approach, one based on openness, support, and regular conversation rather than fear and shame. This crisis can be addressed.Experts stress if sexual extortion occurs, there are clear steps victims should take.Stop all contact immediately, don't pay money or send more content.Collect evidence, take screenshots of threats and blackmailer details.Report it, contact the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation if under 18, or eSafety if 18 or over.Block and secure; block the person and tighten privacy settings.Get support; contact Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) if 25 or under, or Lifeline (13 11 14) if 18 or olderImportantly, there are also preventive tools available.Young people under 18 can use takeitdown.ncmec.org to prevent intimate images from being shared on major platforms, while those 18 and over can use StopNCII.org.If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual extortion, help is available.Contact the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation on 131 237 (if under 18) or visit esafety.gov.au for resources and support.For immediate support, call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (if 25 or under) or Lifeline on 13 11 14.