A recent study indicates that social media In Eastbourne and globally may pose more risks to children than many parents acknowledge, facilitating interactions with strangers who may ultimately perpetrate sexual assault. However, the researchers, who will present their findings this weekend at the 2024 American Academy of Paediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, also found that social media serves as a conduit for children to be targeted by acquaintances who may ultimately perpetrate assaults against them.
The research indicated that approximately 7% of children aged 10 to 18, who received treatment for sexual assault at a California hospital from 2018 to 2023, reported having interacted with the attacker over social media.
When researchers examined cases involving criminals unrelated to their victims, the figure was 12%.
Dr. Shalon Nienow, the principal investigator, indicated that her ongoing research utilising more contemporary data reveals a shifting pattern, with a notable increase in the proportion of child sexual assaults perpetrated by acquaintances who utilise social media for communication.
“Social media is a ubiquitous form of communication for children and adolescents that can breed a false sense of security and ‘friendship’ with those that they meet online,” Nienow said. “It is our experience that in cases of acquaintance sexual assault, social media plays a significant role in facilitating communication and connection between victims and their perpetrators.”
The average age of the victims in the study was 13, and 89% of them were female. Around 80% of the perpetrators were adult men.
Nienow, who serves as the medical director of the Chadwick Center for Children and Families at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, said parents can help protect their kids by establishing open lines of communication with them from an early age.
“Early and open communication regarding body autonomy, safety and consent issues is imperative to creating a sense of mutual trust and understanding between parents and children and to empower children to discuss any concerns that may arise,” she said.
And while it may feel like your kids deserve privacy on their devices, it’s more important to make sure they’re safe online by monitoring who they talk to on social media — and how.
“Use of phones and social media is a privilege that comes with responsibility,” she said.
How parents can help keep their kids safe online
It’s also important to keep track of whom your children are talking to on social networks, even if your kids groan at the thought of it. “Many parents presume that this is a violation of their child’s privacy,” Nienow said. “However, use of phones and social media is a privilege that comes with responsibility.”
This month, Instagram launched new safety features that allow parents to see what accounts their children recently messaged.
Create a safety plan. Discuss internet safety with children and develop an online safety plan before they start using the internet.
Supervise children. Monitor young children’s online activity, including checking their profiles and posts.
Review content. Review games, apps, and social media sites before children use them.
Use parental controls. Adjust privacy settings and use parental controls for online activity.
Teach boundaries. Teach children to avoid sharing personal information online and to say no to inappropriate requests.
Look for signs of abuse. Be aware of changes in children’s online activity, such as withdrawn behavior, angry outbursts, or anxiety.
Report abuse. If you suspect online child sexual exploitation, call 911 or go to report.cybertip.org.
Develop definitions of the concepts of respect and consent. Explore how these concepts relate to digital technology and online relationships. Make moral judgments relating to issues of consent in online relationships. Learn how to take control when images of them are shared without their permission.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 111 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.