BBC Local is releasing a new investigative podcast that examines the dark online world ensnaring vulnerable teenagers.
Assume Nothing: Creation of a Teenage Satanist, hosted by journalist and mother of two Jo Palmer, explores how young people are manipulated into dangerous communities and coerced into harmful behaviours.
The four-part series follows Cameron Finnigan, a teenager from southern England, whose life was dramatically affected after becoming involved with 764, a covert international network under investigation by agencies including the FBI.
The group recruits teens through mainstream chatrooms, pressuring them to live-stream rituals, self-harm, and engage in conversations promoting suicide and violent acts.
Through exclusive interviews, expert commentary, and personal storytelling, Palmer examines how 764 exploits isolation, insecurity, and the desire to belong, revealing the methods used to draw in young people and the risks parents may not see.
The investigation takes listeners from the UK to Canada, where a mother struggled to protect her daughter, and to Romania, where the podcast uncovers a chilling case in which chatroom activity culminated in the murder of a pensioner during a live stream.
Palmer’s reporting highlights the global nature of the threat and the hidden dangers teenagers face online.
“This is the story every parent needs to hear and understand,” Palmer said. “We’re not just talking about fringe extremism; we’re talking about real teenagers, real families, and a threat that’s growing behind the closed doors of teenagers’ bedrooms.”
Assume Nothing: Creation of a Teenage Satanist launches today, Thursday 23 October on BBC Sounds.
