Parents are being warned of an insidious online network that encourages children to become perpetrators of violence and abuse, rather than just victims. The network, collectively known as 'The Com' and including sub-groups such as 764, No Lives Matter, and Maniacs Murder Cult, often espouses satanic ideologies and targets minors, according to cyber-security experts and Irish authorities.
These online groups, largely comprised of minors themselves, have come to the attention of international law enforcement for celebrating child sexual abuse, brutality, and other extreme content. Members frequently use popular online games like Roblox and Minecraft to initiate contact with vulnerable children before luring them to platforms such as Discord, Telegram, and Twitch. Once contact is established, a common tactic involves tricking children into sending compromising images, often under the pretense of friendship or a relationship. These images are then used to coerce victims into committing acts of sadistic violence, including self-mutilation captured on camera, under threat of the compromising material being shared.
Demands associated with these groups have included forcing victims to inflict wounds on themselves, such as cutting words into their flesh or writing on walls with their own blood. In other instances, children willingly engage with the group and create illegal material to gain peer respect. Mick Moran, CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline and former veteran of An Garda Síochána’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Investigation Unit, explained that "The Com" differs from typical sexploitation schemes. "With the Com group, it’s 'Go out and kill your neighbour’s cat and livestream it back into the group, or else we’re going to share this stuff with all your friends," Moran stated. "It’s all about the most outrageous and the most taboo thing possible."
Moran highlighted that while parents are often warned about their children becoming victims of exploitation or fraud, the current threat requires a shift in focus: preventing children from becoming perpetrators. "It is peer on peer. It’s not adults on kids," he emphasized. The motive for some perpetrators, beyond being duped, is often described as seeking "clout" or "for the laugh," driven by a gang mentality where posting the most extreme content garners respect within the group. Boredom and exposure to disturbing content from a young age are also cited as factors contributing to minors seeking out these groups.
Mack Moran noted that some children are drawn in by a macabre curiosity, akin to watching a horror movie, which can lead to a false sense of intimacy with perpetrators. "Then they fall into the trap of thinking they have a boyfriend in this lunatic, and the next thing you know they share a picture with them, and then the trap is sprung," he said.
Perpetrators often seek a sense of power and dominance. Moran described a structure where a core group might direct a larger circle of young individuals eager to impress and gain acceptance by committing increasingly extreme acts. These acts can include violent assaults on homeless individuals, animal torture, or vandalism, all documented and shared within the network. On a more extreme end, a 14-year-old boy with alleged ties to the 764 group was involved in a stabbing incident in Stockholm in 2024. Older men have also been arrested in the U.S. in connection with these groups. The teenage founder of 764, Bradley Cadenhead, is currently serving an 80-year prison sentence in the U.S. for crimes linked to the network.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in Ireland, confirmed awareness of cases linked to "The Com" and 764, stating that the nature and severity of referrals vary, requiring tailored support and protection responses. The agency's priority is to provide support to children, young people, and their families. Tusla urges parents and carers to remain vigilant and encourages informal discussions about concerns to determine appropriate reporting thresholds. For urgent concerns, individuals are advised to contact An Garda Síochána.