With the rise of social media and online gaming, malicious forces hidden behind screens are extending their reach toward young victims. Recently, a father from British Columbia, Canada, Jason Sokolowski, has bravely come forward with a painful warning to parents worldwide: an online extremist network known as “764” is allegedly using popular gaming platforms to lure teenagers into self-harm and suicide. His daughter, Penelope, became a victim of this nightmare and tragically took her own life at the age of 15.
The fall of a gifted girl: from virtual worlds to a real-life abyss
According to the National Post, Penelope showed extraordinary artistic talent and creativity from a young age. She loved amusement parks and enjoyed building virtual worlds in Minecraft and Roblox. However, in the final years of her life, the once cheerful girl underwent a drastic personality change.
Sokolowski recalled that his daughter’s academic performance began to decline, she lost interest in her hobbies, and self-harming behavior followed. She was reportedly targeted through social and gaming platforms with tens of millions of teenage users. Even with parental control software installed at home, it was not enough to prevent the intrusion of perpetrators. Investigations found that Penelope became involved in groups linked to the “764” organization, an extremist online network promoting nihilism and violence.
Shocking manipulation: abuse, self-harm, and livestreamed death attempts
The methods used by the “764” network are described as extremely cruel and psychologically coercive. Sokolowski revealed that his daughter was manipulated into harming the family cat and filming it to send to group members. Even more heartbreaking, she was reportedly forced to carve their Discord username onto her chest and etch the number “764” associated with the group onto multiple parts of her body.
This pattern of abuse eventually escalated into repeated suicide attempts performed in front of online audiences. In February 2025, just before her 16th birthday, Penelope ended her life. Sokolowski shared his story on TikTok, stating: “I witnessed the grooming process, but didn’t realize monsters were quietly entering our lives. Most parents have no idea this is happening around them.”
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Global crackdown: terrorism charges and extremist ideology
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has filed terrorism charges against a 26-year-old Quebec man, Jeffrey Roussel, for allegedly using Telegram to recruit minors and distribute violent content. In the United States, the Department of Justice has also arrested leaders of the group, accusing them of operating a global child exploitation network.
According to authorities, “764” is a nihilistic violent extremist network that targets vulnerable children online. Through threats and manipulation, victims are allegedly forced into self-harm, sexual exploitation, animal abuse, and even murder.
Reflection: the search for safer digital spaces
In response to algorithm-driven addiction, regulatory gaps, and predators hiding online, Penelope’s tragedy has sparked urgent calls for safer digital environments. Compared to mainstream platforms driven by engagement algorithms, emerging platforms such as “Gan Jing World” and its child-focused section “GJW Kids” are presented as safer alternatives:
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