Tolerating Blackmail is Worse Than Being Blackmailed

By definition, ‘Blackmail’ is the act of demanding a benefit from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them. Blackmailing in the Maldivian community has exceeded concern and is now becoming a threat to our innocent children too.  
 
At an average, two cases of blackmail are reported to the Maldives Police Services every week. These are only those that are reported. Can you imagine how many are not reported? 
 
Most often, the cases are of ex-relations who are threatening to leak intimate images of the other following a breakup. That one picture you send naively trusting that the other would never misuse it become the very weapon against you when you seek a different relationship from that person down the line.  
 
In exchange for not revealing intimate photos and video footages, the blackmailer asks for money, favors, and so on and threatens if not agreed to. This in return psychologically damages the person at the receiving end. What is even more concerning is the fact that child grooming is no less common within our community.  
 
In a world where the internet connects us to every corner of the world, it is the responsibility of parents to monitor children’s usage. Most importantly, their access must be limited to age-appropriate content and they should be relevantly educated on what actions fall under blackmailing. Children feel comfortable in communicating their issues with people who don’t judge them hence parents must work on creating an environment that would facilitate such communication.  
 
Blackmail can cause irreversible damages mentally to someone undergoing the trauma. We as individuals must ensure that we empower victims to come forward and take the initiative ourselves to help report the cases on behalf of them.  
 
Call 3034417، 3000600، 9790163 and connect with Family and Child Protection to report cases of blackmail.