The Dangerous Digital Cult Parents Need to Know About: Inside the World of 764

Parents today juggle a constant stream of warnings about kids and the internet, but every so often something emerges that genuinely reshapes what danger looks like. That is what Inside 764, a new podcast series, is about - a threat that will reshape online safety forever - a new kind of cult that targets kids through the internet, and shockingly…. is run by kids.

You may not have heard of it yet, but the DOJ and Interpol, call it one of the most dangerous organisations in the world, and they’re targeting children. 

As a parent of any child with access to a gaming platform, group chat, or social media app, you need to learn about 764. 

On Inside 764, journalist Sabrina Jones investigates how an isolated 15-year-old boy in Texas created a sprawling network of coercion, sexual extortion, and psychological control that pulled vulnerable children into horrifying acts . It is a story about digital radicalisation, and the hidden risks inside the apps kids use every day. It’s an essential listen for any parent. 

What Exactly Is 764?

764 began in 2021 when a teenager named Bradley Cadenhead spiralled further into online spaces after being removed from school for threatening violence. What followed was the creation of a disturbing digital network built across gaming platforms: Discord servers, Telegram groups, and private chat channels.

The group recruited, blackmailed and manipulated other teenagers into becoming both victims and perpetrators. Members were encouraged to harm themselves or others, film it, share it, and participate in escalating acts of cruelty. The dark goal of the group?  Coerce a young girl to take her life on camera. This wasn’t a fringe corner of the dark web. It thrived inside everyday platforms your child may already use… the most common sites that 764 members recruit from are Minecraft and Roblox.

The tactics used by 764 are important for parents to understand because they mirror how many modern online predators operate.

They operate where kids already are online. They built trust quickly. They use blackmail. Parents need to know that exploitation today is rarely about old-fashioned stranger danger. It is about manipulation, and the ability of online groups to make children believe they have a friend, until they have no way out.

Why Teens Are So Vulnerable Online

. Teenagers’ brains are wired for risk-taking, identity seeking, and peer approval. Combine this with a loneliness epidemic, mental health struggles, and a desire to belong, and you have a child who can be drawn into a dangerous online community long before they recognise the warning signs.

764 shows how powerful blackmail and coercion tactics can be, and how quickly a young person can shift from victim to participant, through sheer fear. Kids who feel powerless can be encouraged to wield power over others, creating a cycle of harm that feels impossible to break without adult intervention.

What Parents Can Do 

Inside 764 was created because parents cannot protect children from risks they do not know exist. Through interviews with survivors, investigators, digital safety experts, and former members, the series traces how one isolated teenager built a global cult from his bedroom - and how it continues to grow across countries and platforms.

Parents need to understand the real dangers of digital radicalisation, and the signs to look out for, but also feel empowered. The biggest takeaway is this: when kids feel safe telling adults what is happening in their online world, threats like 764 lose their power.

LISTEN HERE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7awEObYFNEs23ErljB7StA 

OR ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1g4HLU11HU3msGLuLgrVqM?si=6eab49672f3f4837