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                            Library & Multimedia
 Prevalence of online sexual offenses against children in the US
NCJ Number
              307467
Journal

*JAMA Network Open* Volume: 5 Issue: 10 Dated: 2022
Author(s)
          David Finkelhor;
                        Heather Turner;
                        Deirdre Colburn
Date Published

2022
Annotation
              This national survey study investigating the frequency and characteristics of online and technology-facilitated sexual abuse against children and youth found evidence suggesting that a considerable portion of youth have experienced online child sexual abuse.
Abstract
              The results of this national survey study aimed at examining the frequency and characteristics of online and technology-facilitated sexual abuse against children and youth suggest that a considerable portion of youth have experienced online child sexual abuse. Professionals planning prevention and intervention strategies for online sexual abuse should understand that dynamics include diverse episodes that are often extensions of dating abuse, sexual bullying, and sexual harassment, not only events perpetrated by adult internet predators. Sexual abuse is increasingly facilitated by technology, but the prevalence and dynamics of such offenses have not been well delineated, making it difficult to design prevention strategies. In this nationally representative online survey study performed from November 19 to December 29, 2021, young adults aged 18 to 28 years were asked retrospectively about their childhood (<18 years) experiences of online and technology-facilitated abuse. The 2639 participants were sampled from an online panel. Participants were asked questions about 11 different kinds of online and technology-facilitated sexual abuse with follow-up questions about their dynamics and offenders. Prevalence rates were calculated for several cross-cutting concepts (online child sexual abuse, image-based sexual abuse, self-produced child sexual abuse images, nonconsensual sexting, online grooming by adults, revenge pornography, sextortion, and online commercial sexual exploitation). Survey weights were applied to obtain population prevalence estimates. In this national survey study of 2639 individuals, lifetime exposures were as follows: online child sexual abuse, 15.6%; image-based sexual abuse, 11.0%; self-produced child sexual abuse images, 7.2%; nonconsensual sexting, 7.2%; online grooming by adults, 5.4%; revenge pornography, 3.1%; sextortion, 3.5%; and online commercial sexual exploitation, 1.7%.Varied subtypes of online sexual abuse have different prevalence rates. (Published Abstract Provided)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2020-R2-CX-0015


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)


  
  
        
  Award
        Victims of Technology-Facilitated Abuse: Prevalence, Awareness, Dynamics, Help-seeking and Reporting
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2022
    
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