Lennon Torres received her first iPhone at the age of 13 and eagerly downloaded social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat to connect with her peers. Despite being a reality show contestant and later a guest star on Dance Moms, Torres faced both support and threats online due to her transgender identity and open sexuality. She received messages from queer youth and strangers, some of whom pressured her to explore her identity on gay chat sites. Despite her parents’ acceptance, Torres felt disconnected from the LGBTQ+ community, leading her to join a chat site by falsely claiming she was 18. This decision exposed her to sexual exploitation by adult men who pressured her to perform sexual acts on camera.
Torres eventually stopped frequenting chat sites when she started dating at 15. Now, as the campaign and community manager for the Heat Initiative, she works to combat child sexual abuse online. Torres’ experience is not unique, as many teens befriend strangers online, share explicit imagery, and form deep bonds with people they’ve never met in person. This trend has grown over the years, with predators taking advantage of vulnerable youth online.
The issue of online grooming and exploitation has escalated, with reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts increasing significantly. Social media platforms play a key role in facilitating these relationships, with teens often underestimating the dangers or accepting them as part of their online lives. Some teens view sharing nudes and forming online relationships with adults as normal, leading to incidents of sexual abuse facilitated by social media.
The changing landscape of online relationships has left many teens feeling isolated and anxious, turning to the internet for affirmation and connection. However, the online world can also be a source of exclusion, bullying, and performative social ties. Making and maintaining friendships in this environment can be challenging, especially as device use distracts from face-to-face communication.
Efforts to address these challenges include wellness programs like RADical Hope, which aim to help young adults build resilience and strengthen their connections. The program emphasizes face-to-face communication and active listening exercises to combat the pervasive anxiety and fear of “social shark attacks” that can arise from online interactions.