Children encounter sexually harmful situations with individuals they interact with online. Here's some advice on how to minimize this risk.
A recent investigation, set to be discussed at an upcoming gathering, revealed that around 7% of adolescents aged 10 to 18 who sought medical attention for sexual assault at a Californian hospital between 2018 and 2023 attributed social media as a tool aiding their interaction with their assailant. This figure rose to 12% when the focus shifted to cases where the attacker was not a family member or close acquaintance. The average age of the victims was 13, with females making up 89% of the cases, and adult males accounting for approximately 80% of the assailants.
The study's lead author, Dr. Shalon Nienow, from the Chadwick Center for Children and Families at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, reported that her ongoing research with more recent data suggests that the proportion of sexual assaults against children mediated by social media apps has experienced a noticeable surge.
"Social media serves as a ubiquitous communication channel for young people, fostering a misplaced sense of security and 'friendship' with individuals they meet online," Nienow stated. "In our experience, social media plays a significant role in facilitating communication and connection between victims and their perpetrators in cases of acquaintance sexual assault."
Engaging children in discourses on online safety and consent
As the digital landscape has shaped the dynamics of child protection, the need for parents to educate their children on digital hazards has become increasingly vital.
"Previously, being aware of a child's whereabouts was sufficient to safeguard them, but now, sexual exploitation can occur within our homes without our knowledge," noted Dr. Anna Akerman, an associate professor in the department of communications at Adelphi University in New York, who specializes in understanding the impact of media on children. "Sexually abused adolescents often opt to remain silent due to guilt, fear, and shame."
Such sentiments underscore the importance of initiating conversations about these risks with children. Parents should inform their kids of potential online threats, highlighting the risks posed by strangers who might try to contact them online, emphasizing the need for parents' approval before meeting someone in person, and encouraging them to refuse if they feel uncomfortable with a situation.
"Establishing early and open dialogue concerning body autonomy, safety, and consent concerns is critical to fostering mutual trust, understanding, and empowering children to voice any concerns that may arise," Nienow added. She is also a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego.
Keeping a tab on children's online interactions
Monitoring children's online interactions has become essential in today's digital age, as many parents mistakenly associate it with invasion of privacy.
This month, Instagram introduced new safety features that allow parents to view the accounts their children have recently interacted with. These safeguards provide a means for parents to stay informed about their children's interactions without snooping on their messages.
Instagram's updated settings for users under age 18 limit them to receiving messages from individuals they are already connected with. However, 16- to 17-year-olds have the option to alter these settings, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that children do not modify them and verify their ages to ensure their accounts are marked as teen accounts.
Teaching children about appropriate content
Parents should also pay close attention to the content their children share on social media, as studies demonstrate that teenagers often unwittingly expose themselves to risk by posting content perceived as provocative.
Adolescents may unknowingly endanger themselves by sharing sexualized images of themselves. My research revealed that girls often attempt to enhance their popularity by posting enticing pictures to garner likes on social platforms. Thus, it is vital for parents to educate children about the potential consequences of sharing such images, which might make them targets for predators. Parents should also pay heed to their children's online activities.
Regrettably, children often find ways to bypass their parents' rules and safeguards. One adolescent I interviewed for my book confessed that her mother prohibited her from posting pictures of herself in swimwear. To circumvent this rule, she shared these photographs on a different platform, only to find that they had been reposted on another social media platform - allegedly used for trafficking underage girls.
"I was scared they could find me and take me," the girl recalled.
Fortunately, she approached her mother for assistance. However, many children are hesitant to confide in their parents when they encounter difficult situations due to fear of losing their digital devices. Thus, the most crucial message parents can impart is that they are a safe and reliable source of help, regardless of their children's mistakes.
The capacity of sexual predators to engage with children on social media poses a formidable threat.
However, as Akerman argued, there are practical ways for parents to educate their children about protecting themselves and safeguarding their online activities.
"To the extent we can monitor what teens do on these platforms and engage in constructive conversations about their risks, we can significantly mitigate this very real and continually evolving threat," Akerman concluded.
In light of the rising concerns about sexual assaults mediated by social media, promoting health and wellness in digital communication is crucial for adolescents. Encouraging open dialogues about online safety, consent, and body autonomy can empower children to voice their concerns and make informed decisions about their online interactions.
Furthermore, parents should proactively engage in their children's digital wellness, staying informed about their online activities and using available safety features to monitor their interactions. Through this combined approach of education and monitoring, we can contribute to creating a safer digital environment for our children.
