Online predators are targeting children as young as 8 through gaming and social media platforms. The FBI's Houston Field Office says complaints have surged 600%, a warning that extends to League City families.
Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson called the exploitation of children by violent online networks one of the greatest threats facing the country. The warning, first reported by KHOU on Friday, Sept. 25, covers the Houston metro area, which includes League City and Galveston County.
Females aged 10 to 17 are the primary targets, according to the FBI Houston Field Office. The agency has documented victims as young as 8.
Hudson told KHOU that grooming often starts on social media or gaming platforms and escalates to children sharing sexually explicit photos or videos. The exploitation can extend well beyond a sexual motive, the FBI said.
"The absolute worst thing that parents can do is assume this is not happening here in Houston because it absolutely is happening here," Hudson told KHOU on Sept. 25.
Hudson said predators in some cases push victims toward self-harm. The FBI has documented cases in which victims took their own lives while live-streaming.
A national pattern
The threat is not limited to Houston. The FBI is investigating more than 400 subjects tied to violent online networks nationwide, CNN reported in February. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received more than 3,000 reports involving what the FBI calls Sadistic Online Exploitation in the year before that report, a 130% increase over the prior year.
Separately, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Roblox Corporation in November 2025, alleging the gaming platform ignored state and federal online safety laws and that Texas children had been exposed to grooming and exploitation on the site, according to a statement from the attorney general's office.
What parents should watch for
The FBI published an open letter to parents listing warning signs of victimization. They include:
- Sudden behavior changes such as becoming withdrawn, moody or irritable
- Unexplained cuts, scratches, bruises, burns or other wounds, often in patterns
- Threatening suicide or openly talking about death
- Unexplained gifts or packages arriving for the child
- Reports of personal information being posted online without consent
The FBI advises parents to monitor children's online activity, use parental controls and talk to children about the risks of sharing personal information, images and videos with strangers.
How to report
Anyone who suspects a child is being exploited can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip through the FBI's online portal. Reports can also be filed with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
NCMEC offers a free service called Take It Down that helps minors or adults who were victimized as minors remove sexually explicit content from the internet.
The FBI's Houston Field Office said the 600% rise in complaints is partly attributed to increased awareness, and the agency has secured successful prosecutions of suspected predators on these networks.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
