AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A special panel of Georgia lawmakers met Thursday at the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta to examine how social media, gaming apps and other online platforms are fueling a surge in child sexual abuse, sextortion and youth self-harm across the state.
The House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on the Impact of Online Platforms on Georgia Youth, chaired by state Rep. Rob Clifton, R-Evans, held its third meeting to hear testimony from experts, law enforcement and families on the front lines of digital threats facing minors.
Testimony delivered by local officials painted an alarming snapshot of the dangers targeting youth in Augusta-Richmond County.
According to Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Terry Gore, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has referred 206 child sexual abuse cases to the sheriff’s office since January. Gore reported that investigators receive between one and two sextortion cases every week.
Authorities also detailed the devastating local impact of “764,” an online extremist network that targets children and coerces them into self-harm, violence, and suicide. The FBI considers 764 one of the fastest-growing online threats to minors nationwide.
Investigators in Richmond County are actively working with 25 children between the ages of eight and 17 who have been impacted by the group. The sheriff’s office reported that just Wednesday, members of 764 coerced a 15-year-old Richmond County girl into carving her initials into her chest.
Officials confirmed that Richmond County has lost four children to the group this year, following the deaths of six children after encountering 764 last year.
One local mother spoke anonymously, sharing her family’s experience with committee members. She said that the network targeted her daughter through a mobile game app she had permitted her child to download.
“Life would have continued on exactly like normal,” the mother said. “But this guy online convinced her to slit her wrists. Fortunately, she wasn’t successful.”
Local leaders, including representatives from the Child Enrichment Center and District Attorney Jared Williams, stressed that while parent education and tools like the AI-monitoring app Bark can assist families, state-level systemic changes are vital.
Williams told lawmakers that meaningful protection requires holding technology platforms accountable and providing adequate state funding.
“The state needs to hit tech companies where it hurts — their pockets,” Williams said, referencing Georgia’s recent legal action against Meta.
Williams added that long-term prevention depends on the state budget, urging lawmakers to fund the law enforcement agencies and community organizations tasked with investigating digital crimes and protecting children.
The committee will use the findings and testimony to draft legislative recommendations ahead of the upcoming Georgia General Assembly session.
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