Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime 127d ago

In this episode of Mekong Matters, we examine how popular online games and adjacent platforms are being weaponized to target and exploit young people in Thailand. Our guest Wirawan “Boom” Mosby, founder and director of the Hug Project Thailand, shares on-the-ground insights into how trust is built and abused online, how perpetrators profit from live-streamed content, and what families, schools, tech companies, and governments can do to protect children. Chapters: 0:00 — How dating app ads surface in gaming spaces for kids 0:22 — Roblox-linked Discord case and coercion via in‑game rewards 2:17 — Why gaming platforms are high-risk 2:39 — How trust is built, then exploited 3:44 — The “donation/VIP” model and multi-admin roles 5:25 — Offender profiles 6:23 — Platform cooperation and digital traces 6:54 — What kids learn (and don’t) about sex, intimacy, and online behavior 8:34 — “Karma” and internalized blame after image leaks 9:20 — Training tools for educators, NGOs, and parents 9:58 — How the Hug Project supports victims 11:03 — Call for safety-by-design & stricter standards If you or someone you know needs help: - Contact your local child protection services or law enforcement immediately. - Report abusive content directly on the platform where it appears - Reach out to reputable child protection NGOs in your area This podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.