Magazine article
The emerging threat of violent, exploitative digital ‘com networks’: what do we need to know?
The Conversation, Vol.19 August 2026
2026
Appears in The Conversation
Abstract
For many parents, keeping their children safe online is a top priority. But now there’s an emerging threat: “com networks”.
Com networks (short for community networks) are online groups that mostly target vulnerable young people in the online spaces they use every day, including gaming platforms and social media.
Through threats, they convince young people to harm themselves and others.
Perpetrators are often motivated by status, fascination with violence, or sexual gratification.
Details
- Title
- The emerging threat of violent, exploitative digital ‘com networks’: what do we need to know?
- Authors
- Larissa Christensen - University of the Sunshine CoastBricklyn Priebe - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- The Conversation, Vol.19 August 2026
- Publisher
- Conversation Media Group
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.64628/AA.jktw56yut
- ISSN
- 2201-5639
- Copyright note
- © The Conversation Media Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Law and Society; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991251598702621
- Output Type
- Magazine article
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1 Record Views