How Innocent Games Are Exploited

In this first solo show for December, the host, Larry Hagner, comes to the audience with anger and urgency to discuss a massive, sinister online threat targeting children through seemingly innocent games like Roblox and Minecraft. Drawing heavily from a recent Sean Ryan Show interview with ethical hacker Ryan Montgomery (Episode 255), the host alerts parents to the dark fringes of the internet and a dangerous group, 764, described as a dark web cult with an "indifference" belief that lives and families mean nothing.

The episode features the heartbreaking, public post from Adam and Amanda Tate whose 15-year-old son, Bryce Tate, tragically took his own life after being a victim of sextortion. The host details how these criminals build trust, escalate quickly (the Tate tragedy occurred in just three hours), and use threats of public exposure to manipulate vulnerable children. Beyond sextortion, the episode warns about extreme acts of self-harm, pet-killing, and even violence against family members being coerced for things as trivial as Roblox Robux.

The host emphasizes that parental awareness is the only defense. He strongly recommends using a parental monitoring software like Bark (about $15/month) to monitor online chats, text messages, and social media, allowing parents to get immediate alerts and intervene before tragedy strikes. This is a passionate call to action for fathers to educate themselves, have ongoing, fruitful conversations, and protect their children's lives.

TIMELINE SUMMARY

[0:00] Introduction

[1:47] Episode disclaimer for parents

[2:22] Alerting parents to the "massive threat" in games like Roblox and Minecraft

[3:35] How innocent games can be tampered with and made evil

[3:59] Introducing the Sean Ryan Show and the interview with Ryan Montgomery

[4:37] Episode 255 of The Sean Ryan Show: "Roblox and Minecraft. Hacker exposes the largest online video games."

[5:22] Warning: Roblox is not safe; introduction to the online group 764

[6:07] The 764 group's belief in indifference and not caring about the welfare of children

[6:51] Sharing the story of Bryce Tate (15) and his parents, Adam and Amanda Tate

[8:57] The discovery: Bryce was a victim of sextortion—a serious and growing threat

[9:49] The extortion phase: demanding $500 and threatening to share photos.

[10:22] Bryce, believing his world was destroyed, was manipulated into taking his own life

[11:11] The rapid timeline: the first message to the final tragic act occurred in just three hours

[12:02] Episode recommendation: Sean Ryan/Ryan Montgomery interview

[13:13] Discussing extreme acts: forcing a 14-year-old girl to hang herself naked on video

[14:08] Forcing kids to tattoo usernames, burn themselves, and kill their pets or parents/siblings on video

[15:10] The shocking detail: kids are being coerced for Roblox Robux, not even real money

[16:49] Bark: Parental Monitoring Software

[19:11] Call to parents: Make an effort to have ongoing conversations with your kids

[19:35] The modern threat: the bully can be in your kid's bedroom, 25 feet away, and you have "no idea"

[20:25] Conclusion: The only protection our kids have is us; a passionate final call to action.

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. The Threat is Real and Sinister Online platforms like Roblox and Minecraft are being exploited by a large, sadistic group (764) on the dark web that preys on vulnerable children, escalating from sextortion to coercing extreme acts of self-harm and violence for Robux or recognition.
2. Speed is Critical—Intervention Must Be Immediate. The sextortion process is incredibly fast. A child can be manipulated into a catastrophic decision in as little as three to six hours, as seen in the Bryce Tate tragedy, highlighting the crucial need for immediate digital awareness and monitoring.
3. The Stakes Are Life and Death. These criminals are professionals who exploit children's innocence and sense of shame, often leading victims to take their own lives. The host argues this is a heinous crime, describing the acts as being "murdered... through his phone".
4. Awareness is the Only Defense. Parents cannot protect their children unless they know what is happening. The host urges parents to research the topic (especially the Sean Ryan Show interview with Ryan Montgomery) to understand the depth of the technological and psychological infiltration.
5. Protect Your Kids with Technology and Ongoing Conversation. While open, ongoing conversations are vital, parental monitoring tools like Bark are essential for a safety net. Bark monitors 30+ apps and texts, sending immediate alerts to parents, allowing intervention within minutes to stop a fast-moving threat.

LINKS

• Podcast Shownotes: https://thedadedge.com/1409
• Bark: Parental Monitoring Software: https://thedadedge.com/bark
• #255 Ryan Montgomery - Roblox & Minecraft: Hacker Exposes the Largest Online Video Games: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GPd36fFPuLsBSlZp6WUvc?si=7BfOCdNOTzuoW4LkvHzyAA
• #JusticeforBryce - Adam Tate's Official Announcement: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=32876961955250751&id=100000911118224&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=nnmVU8LFIdec2oLO#
• Pentester: https://pentester.com
• Ryan Montgomery: https://www.youtube.com/@0dayCTF