BBC Local is launching a gripping new podcast series for BBC Sounds which exposes a dark and disturbing reality facing today’s teenagers. Assume Nothing: Creation of a Teenage Satanist is a four-part investigation hosted by mother of two and BBC journalist, Jo Palmer, who uncovers how vulnerable young people are being drawn into a dangerous online world.
At the heart of the series is the story of Cameron Finnigan, a teenager from the South of England whose life took a sinister turn after becoming involved with 764, a covert network operating online. The group has triggered global alarm with international law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, who are actively investigating its activities and say they are a real and present danger to all children.
764 is known to recruit teenagers through mainstream chatrooms, where they are coerced into live-streaming rituals, engaging in self-harm, and participating in conversations that promote suicide and planning acts of violence.
The podcast explores how 764 exploits the vulnerabilities of young people, manipulating their insecurities, isolation, and desire to belong. Through exclusive interviews, expert analysis, and deeply personal storytelling, Palmer reveals how Finnigan was drawn into this dangerous world. The podcast also offers vital insight into what parents and guardians can do to protect their children from going down similar paths online.
As the investigation unfolds, Palmer follows leads across continents to uncover what happens when victims find themselves inside one of 764’s chatrooms. The journey takes listeners to Canada, where a mother was pushed to the brink of sanity after her daughter fell victim to the group, and to Romania, where the investigation takes a chilling turn. There, Palmer uncovers evidence of murder plans hatched inside a chatroom which culminates in the killing of a Romanian pensioner during a live stream. The crime was watched by 764 members around the world.
Host Jo Palmer said: “This is the story every parent needs to hear and understand. 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.”
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