Child sexual exploitation refers to the sexual abuse of a person below the age of 18, as well as to the production of images of such abuse and the sharing of those images online.
Online child sexual exploitation is a constantly evolving phenomenon and is shaped by developments in technology. Mobile connectivity, growing internet coverage in developing countries and the development of pay-as-you-go streaming solutions, which provide a high degree of anonymity to the viewer, are furthering the trend in the commercial live-streaming of child sexual abuse.
Online child sexual exploitation includes a wide range of behaviors and situations. Most commonly this includes grooming, live streaming, consuming child sexual abuse material, and coercing and blackmailing children for sexual purposes.
This could include:
An adult engaging a child in a chat about sexual acts
An adult sending nude or pornographic images of themselves to a child or exposing themselves via live streaming
Asking a child to view pornographic images/videos
Asking a child to perform sexual acts, expose themselves or share a sexual image
Taking or making and sharing or showing indecent images of children
Online child sexual exploitation is often thought of as adults abusing children, however, research indicates that more and more child exploitation material is being shared via social media, and is being produced by children themselves. This is sometimes called self-generated sexual content and often takes the form of ‘sexting’ which is requesting, capturing and sharing of explicit material.
The most common forms of online child sexual exploitation includes grooming, live streaming, consuming child sexual abuse material, and coercing and blackmailing children for sexual purposes.
- a person who is, appears to be or is implied to be, a child as a victim of sexual abuse, or
- a person who is, appears to be or is implied to be, a child engaged in or apparently engaged in a sexual pose or sexual activity (whether or not in the presence of other persons), or
- a person who is, appears to be or is implied to be, a child in the presence of another person who is engaged or apparently engaged in a sexual pose or sexual activity, or
- the private parts of a person who is, appears to be or is implied to be, a child.
A child may be or feel pressured, forced or coerced into taking and sharing these explicit images with their peers or friends.
If you or your child discovers sexual content of themselves has been shared online ask for help.
It’s important to have open and honest conversations with your children, and ensure they’d feel comfortable telling a trusted adult if they are contacted by someone they don’t know.
help
The use of technology or the internet to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child, including the production and sharing of child sexual abuse material online.
In some countries and in contemporary Australian legislation, the term ‘child pornography’ has been replaced with the term ‘child abuse material’. This is to avoid any suggestion of compliance on the part of the victim, or legality on the part of the sex offender. It also tends to imply images of children posing in ‘provocative’ positions, rather than children suffering horrific abuse. The term ‘child pornography’ does not accurately reflect the serious nature of this material. Online Grooming When an adult makes online contact with someone under the age of 16 with the intention of developing a relationship to enable their sexual abuse. Image based abuse When intimate, nude, or sexual images/videos are shared without consent. Self-generated child sexual exploitation material Content created knowingly by someone under the age of 16 that is nude, semi-nude, or sexual in nature. Live online child sexual abuse The use of the internet by a person to view, pay to view, or to provide instructions and view in real time, online child sexual exploitation material. Sexual Extortion (aka Sextortion) A form of online blackmail where an offender threatens to reveal a person’s personal sexual images unless they give into their demands. Online child sex offender Someone who commits sexual offences against someone under the age of 18.
Signs to look out for
Online child sexual exploitation can be hard to detect, there is no single sign that a child has been abused online. Those offending against children use manipulation to prevent children from speaking to a parent/trusted adult or family members and friends. They may make the child feel special and encourage them to keep their actions a secret or make them feel ashamed about what has happened and tell them they’ll be in trouble for their actions.
It’s not always easy to know what our children are up to or if anything is bothering them, the below signs can indicate that something is wrong and you should speak with your child.
Unexplained relationships with older people
A change in the use of words/language the child uses
Showing sexual behaviors which is not in line with their age/stage of development
Changes in their online habits – spending more/less time online, only being online in private
They have unexplained gifts, expensive clothes, mobile phones
Unexplained money or frequently taking part in activities requiring money
Changes in mood, behaviour and/or eating habits
Always tired
Staying out late, not returning home
Change in appearance or borrowing clothes from others
Truancy or drop in performance at school
Regularly using drugs or drinking alcohol
If your child is a victim of online child sexual exploitation, it is important they know that it is not their fault and that you fully support them.
