Payboy

On 18 November, the European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, VML Belgium traditionally launches a bold and striking campaign for Child Focus: Payboy. A confronting parody of the world-famous nude magazine Playboy in order to address the growing threat of financial sextortion among young people, and to expose the mechanisms and dangers of online extortion.

Financial sextortion is a serious and rapidly increasing problem. Young people – 93% of them boys – are approached online by seemingly attractive girls. In reality, these profiles are often operated by men, and even criminal gangs. They manipulate young people, seduce them into sending nude pictures and then apply pressure. What begins as an innocent chat increasingly ends with: “Pay up, or your nudes go online.” With Payboy, Child Focus aims to protect young people and raise their awareness of this danger.

The campaign is a clear nod to the iconic Playboy, but with a sinister twist. Instead of the familiar seductive content, Payboy reveals the fake profiles and misleading photos and videos that criminals use to lure young people into their trap.

But you should especially read Payboy for the articles. Young people and parents discover the harsh reality of blackmail and extortion behind these profiles. The magazine explains how to recognise, prevent and deal with (financial) sextortion. It includes testimonies of victims and makes visible how perpetrators work.

Read all about it on www.payboy.be