Children are sexually abused online regularly, and the problem is only growing. Here’s what experts suggest – CNN

Introduction

Researchers are calling for global action after finding that 1 in 12 kids are being exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse online, according to a new study.

“The study highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and action from the public and policymakers. Rapid advancements in digital technology and the growth of internet and smartphone access, particularly in developing nations, are putting more children at risk every day,” said lead author of the study Dr. Xiangming Fang, research associate professor of health policy and behavioral sciences at Georgia State University’s School of Public Health.

The report published Tuesday in the journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health looked at data from 123 studies between 2010 and 2023. Researchers then analyzed the number of children younger than 18 years old who were exposed to any of the subtypes of sexual abuse: online solicitation; online sexual exploitation; sexual extortion; and nonconsensual taking and sharing of and exposure to sexual images and videos.

The Online Crime Scene

Knowing what sexual abuse and exploitation online looks like can help in its prevention.

The researchers defined online sexual exploitation as sex acts being exchanged for money or resources. Those can be “food, clothes, shelter, affection, protection, belonging, gifts, or anything else of perceived value to the young person or child,” Fang said.

Online solicitation is sexual inquiries and long-term sexual conversations, which may lead to exchanging sexual pictures or videos, he said.

“It is important to note that the different types of online solicitation often come from peers as well as adult perpetrators,” Fang added.

Sexual extortion happens when a person blackmails another person for things including money, gift cards or other sexual acts by threatening to share intimate pictures or videos, according to the study.

And nonconsensual taking, sharing and exposure to sexual images can happen when images are captured when a child was intoxicated, distracted, unconscious or otherwise unable to consent, he said. Exploitation and abuse can also occur when a child’s face is imposed onto a sexual image of someone else (called a “deepfake”) or when a child is exposed to pornographic content.

“Unwanted exposure to sexual content also occurs frequently while surfing or scrolling through social media,” Fang said.

The use of AI-generated images, deepfakes and other technological advances has encouraged the rise of sexual extortion, exploitation and abuse, he said.

“Be in no doubt (these) are not harmless images: they are deeply damaging, and the abuse continues with every view and the failure to take down this abusive content,” Fang added.

Where to Turn

Talking to children about their safety online is a crucial first step in protecting them from online sexual abuse, said Dr. Kara Alaimo, associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She was not involved in the study.

“Kids are likely at greater risk of becoming victims if they aren’t educated about these dangers and how to protect themselves online, spend a lot of time online, and are unsupervised online,” she said.

When it comes to supervision, there are ways to keep an eye on your child’s safety while still allowing them some privacy, including a new feature on Instagram that gives parents access to who their child is communicating with while not sharing the content of the messages, said Alaimo, who is also the author of “Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back.”

Keep conversations about what’s going on online open with your children and limit their screen time so that they have other healthy things to do, such as going outside and spending time with their friends face to face, Alaimo said.

It’s also vital for families to let children know “that if they are targeted that they can always turn to them for support and to find a way out,” said first author of the study Dr. Deborah Fry, professor of international child protection research at the University of Edinburgh and global director of data for Childlight – Global Child Safety Institute.

And know that there are resources for you, too, if you find your child has been the victim of online sexual abuse, Alaimo added.

“If kids do become victims of online abuse,” she said, “parents should consider reaching out to law enforcement, groups such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) and an attorney.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality
4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
5. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
6. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
7. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content:

• SDG 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
• SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• SDG 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
• SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article:

• Number of children exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse online
• Number of reports of suspected child sexual exploitation
• Prevalence of online solicitation, online sexual exploitation, sexual extortion, and nonconsensual taking and sharing of sexual images and videos
• Number of cases of unwanted exposure to sexual content online
• Use of AI-generated images and deepfakes in sexual exploitation and abuse

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cnn.com