A South Carolina family’s nightmare exposes the deadly dangers lurking on social media. State Representative Brandon Guffey’s 17-year-old son, Gavin, took his own life after falling victim to a heartless sextortion scam. This tragedy reveals how Big Tech’s greed puts American kids at risk while foreign criminals exploit weak protections.
Gavin was targeted by a Nigerian scammer posing as a girl on Instagram. The predator pressured him to send explicit photos using “vanish mode,” a feature that lets messages disappear. After receiving the images, the criminal demanded money — then kept harassing Gavin even after he sent $25. When the teen couldn’t pay more, he saw no way out.
The cruel scammer didn’t stop after Gavin’s death. He tracked down Rep. Guffey and the boy’s cousin, demanding payments from them too. Foreign criminals know our laws can’t touch them — until now. A 24-year-old Nigerian man was finally extradited to face charges, but justice comes too late for Gavin.
Rep. Guffey is fighting back, calling Big Tech “the new Big Tobacco.” He warns social media companies addict kids while ignoring obvious dangers. Features like vanish mode help predators cover their tracks, yet Meta and others keep these tools active to boost engagement and profits.
This grieving father is suing Meta, Instagram’s parent company, for enabling his son’s tormentors. The lawsuit claims Meta knowingly designed addictive platforms that facilitate exploitation. While activists push woke censorship, real threats to children flourish in plain sight.
Conservatives understand freedom requires responsibility. Tech giants hide behind “innovation” while harming an entire generation. Just like tobacco companies lied about addiction, Silicon Valley downplays how their algorithms drive mental health crises and predator access.
America’s parents are tired of begging corporations to protect kids. It’s time for strong laws holding Big Tech accountable. Platforms must verify users’ ages, disable dangerous features, and cooperate with law enforcement to hunt down foreign predators.
Gavin’s story should ignite national outrage. Every parent must check their child’s phone and demand action from leaders. Our children’s lives depend on crushing these digital threats — and making Big Tech pay for putting profits before safety.
