05/09/2026
I worked a case where an 11-year-old boy joined a public gaming Discord to talk strategy with friends from school. A moderator in the server started DMing him tips, then jokes, then life advice. Within six weeks, that man knew more about what was going on in that kid's life than his parents did. The boy's grades didn't drop. He didn't act out. He actually seemed happier. His mom told me later she thought he'd finally found his group. That's the part that stays with me — the groomer didn't replace the parent by being dangerous. He replaced them by being available.