The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has raised an alarm over a disturbing global online network known as ‘764’ that coerces teenagers into committing increasingly violent and sexual acts.
The network, which operates across popular social media and gaming platforms, has prompted more than 250 investigations across all 55 FBI field offices in America, according to ABC News.
According to FBI Assistant Director David Scott, who heads the Bureau’s Counterterrorism Division, the network represents an unprecedented threat to young people worldwide.
“We see a lot of bad things, but this is one of the most disturbing things we’re seeing,” Scott told reporters. “The more gore, the more violence… that raises their stature within the groups. So it’s sort of a badge of honor within some of these groups to actually do the most harm to victims.”
The online predators, who form part of this loose network, initially befriend teenagers on popular platforms like Roblox and Discord before gradually manipulating them into performing escalating harmful behaviors. These include creating graphic pornography, harming family pets, cutting themselves with sharp objects, and in extreme cases, attempting suicide.
The predators demand that victims send photos and videos documenting these acts, which are then shared among network members or used to blackmail victims for more disturbing content. Some network members even host “watch parties” where others can observe victims being tormented in real-time.
The FBI has identified victims as young as nine years old and believes thousands of children worldwide may have been targeted.
In a particularly troubling pattern, many victims eventually become perpetrators themselves. The mother of one American teenager who became entangled with the network described the experience as “very scary and frightening.”
“It was very difficult to process, because we didn’t raise her to engage in that kind of activity,” said the mother, whose identity was withheld to protect her daughter.
The teenager, a former honor roll student from Connecticut, USA, was arrested last year for conspiring with a ‘764’ member to direct bomb threats at her own community. Police discovered pornographic photos, images of self-mutilation, and photos paying homage to ‘764’ on her devices.
“They felt like they owned her,” the girl’s mother explained.
The FBI’s Counterterrorism Division and the U.S. Justice Department’s National Security Division now classify ‘764’ and similar networks as potential forms of domestic terrorism, coining a new term for the most dangerous actors: “nihilistic violent extremists.”
“One of the main goals of ‘764’ and similar networks is to sow chaos and bring down society,” explained Assistant Director Scott.
Law enforcement investigations have revealed that these groups often share violent content with victims while glorifying mass-casualty attacks such as the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. Some also introduce victims to extreme ideologies including neo-Nazism or Satanism.
“They want to desensitize these young people so that nothing really disturbs them anymore,” Scott added.
The ‘764’ network was reportedly founded more than four years ago by Bradley Cadenhead, who is currently serving an 80-year prison sentence in Texas after pleading guilty to child pornography-related charges in 2023. According to court documents, Cadenhead launched the community on Discord when he was just 15 years old, naming it ‘764’ after the first three digits of his hometown’s postal code in Stephenville, Texas.
The network has since evolved into a global movement with numerous offshoots and subgroups that frequently rebrand to evade detection by social media companies and law enforcement.
“Think of this less as a group, and think of it more as an ideology,” said Detective Tommy Van Tasel of the Vernon Police Department in Connecticut. “It doesn’t matter what they’re called. There are a lot of actors out there… encouraging this type of behavior. So it’s everywhere. It’s in every community.”
American authorities have arrested at least 15 people on child pornography or weapons-related charges connected to ‘764’ in recent years. Just two weeks ago, the U.S. Justice Department announced the arrest of 20-year-old Prasan Nepal for allegedly operating an elite online club dedicated to promoting ‘764’, extorting young victims, and producing disturbing content. Nepal reportedly helped launch the network with Cadenhead.
In another case, 24-year-old Jairo Tinajero from Arkansas plotted to murder a 14-year-old girl who resisted his demands, believing the murder would elevate his status within the network. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and child pornography charges three months ago and awaits sentencing in August.
Jack Rocker, 19, from Tampa, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty in January to possessing what the Justice Department called “some of the most horrific, evil content available on the Internet.” Investigators found more than 8,300 videos and images organized into folders with titles such as “764,” “kkk-racist,” and “ISIS.”
Detective Van Tasel and FBI Assistant Director Scott advise parents to monitor their children’s online activities closely, particularly on gaming platforms and social media applications. They recommend watching for changes in behavior, questionable injuries to family pets, or evidence of self-harm.
“If a child is wearing long-sleeved clothing or trying to cover up their body on hot days, that could be a sign of self-harm,” Scott warned.
“Just be on the lookout for any of those things that are alarming, and just have in the back of your mind that this may all be a result of what is happening online,” Van Tasel added, urging parents to contact law enforcement if they have concerns.
Both Roblox and Discord have acknowledged the severity of the issue. A Roblox spokesperson emphasized that parents should “engage in open conversations about online safety,” especially because ‘764’ is “known for using a variety of online platforms” to evade safeguards.
Discord described ‘764’ as “an industry-wide issue” and stated that the “horrific actions of ‘764’ have no place on Discord or in society.” Both companies claim to use technology to remove harmful content and prohibit behavior endangering children.
As global authorities continue to combat this growing threat, parents and guardians across Nigeria are advised to remain vigilant about their children’s online activities and report any suspicious behavior to local authorities immediately.
Despite the trauma experienced by victims, recovery is possible with proper support. The Connecticut teenager who became involved with ‘764’ has since cooperated with authorities and is now “back on track” after receiving help.
“Back to having friends, back to attending activities,” her mother reported. “Not quite back to where she was when it all began, but she’s getting there.”
