A new study has found that online inappropriate behavior that is aimed at children may be more common than we think. There is no denying the fact that children are spending more time online now than they have in decades past.
While there are some benefits to being online, there are also dangers to be aware of. The internet is a great place to make connections, and to learn and grow, but there can also be inappropriate content online, and the potential dangers of predatory behavior.
According to Medical Xpress, a new study has found that online sexual abuse of children is common, and that the people behind it are usually people parents know, like friends and partners. This study was done by the University of New Hampshire, and it can be read in full here.
The study found that children and teenagers are being tracked, lured, and sexually abused online, and it may not always be done by strangers. This can be concerning for parents everywhere, and make them even more aware of what their children are doing online, and who they are speaking to.
They found that in many cases, it is usually friends and dating partners that are doing the “grooming” online. This goes against the common stereotype of a person who would lure children online. That is an image of an older predator, but the research is stating that this is not the case, and everyone needs to be aware of whom the real threats are to children.
Study author, David Finkelhor, said that the majority of the “bad guys” online are people the family knows. People are taking images of children and misusing them online.
Another concerning fact is that there are some kids and teenagers out there who are making money by selling images of themselves to people they know, or on their own on sites like OnlyFans. This can seem like an easy, and quick, way to make money, but they may not be thinking of the future consequences or the fact that it is illegal.
To complete this study, researchers asked more than 2,600 were asked about online child sexual abuse from when they were young. They explained what was considered online sexual abuse, and then those would be able to determine if they were a victim. They found that 16% had experienced at least one type of sexual abuse when they were younger. These events typically happened when they were between the ages of 13 and 17 years old.
Sources: Medical Xpress, JAMA Network