Scarborough schools say there’s no evidence that their students have been targeted, but are alerting families after warnings from state officials.
SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Scarborough Public Schools is warning families about online threats to children after state officials alerted that extremist groups are actively targeting youth on popular online platforms.
The Cumberland County Emergency Management Association notified local school leaders Wednesday about a credible threat identified by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, according to the district.
The threat reportedly involves Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) groups infiltrating video games like Roblox and Minecraft, and social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, X, Telegram, Twitch, and Discord.
Scarborough Public Schools explained that NVE groups aim “to inflict severe psychological and physical harm on children, specifically targeting those between the ages of 9 and 17, and their families.”
Experts say NVE groups are not aligned with any specific political or religious ideology. Instead of pursuing a clear cause, they carry out violent acts often driven by a belief that life has no meaning and society should collapse.
According to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, they reportedly force minors to produce child sexual abuse material and use it to coerce victims into acts of violence, animal abuse, or self-harm. Victims are also targeted with harassment, intimidation, and swatting campaigns.
The notice to parents stated that there is currently no evidence to suggest that any Scarborough students have been targeted.
However, the U.S. Department of Justice recommends that parents and guardians take the following steps to protect children:
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Discuss online safety and establish clear guidelines for internet use.
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Supervise children’s device use and keep devices in shared spaces.
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Review games, apps, and social media sites before use.
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Use parental controls and adjust privacy settings.
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Remind children never to share personal information or images online.
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Teach body safety and boundaries.
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Watch for signs of abuse, such as secrecy, withdrawal, or mood changes.
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Encourage open communication and reporting of inappropriate behavior.
Anyone who suspects online exploitation should immediately report it by calling 911, contacting the FBI at tips.fbi.gov, or filing a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or report.cybertip.org.
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