Online "predators" and their victims: Myths, realities, and implications for prevention and treatment.

Abstract

The publicity about online "predators" who prey on naive children using trickery and violence is largely inaccurate.

To Tweet, or Not to Tweet: Gender Differences and Potential Positive and Negative Health Outcomes of Adolescents’ Social Internet Use

“…The publicity about online "predators" who prey on naive children using trickery and violence is largely inaccurate; (they are more often) fitting a model of statutory rape, where adult offenders meet, develop relationships with, and openly seduce underage teenagers (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008). In the great majority of cases, victims are aware they are conversing online with adults (Wolak et al, 2008).…”

“…The publicity about online "predators" who prey on naive children using trickery and violence is largely inaccurate; (they are more often) fitting a model of statutory rape, where adult offenders meet, develop relationships with, and openly seduce underage teenagers (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008). In the great majority of cases, victims are aware they are conversing online with adults (Wolak et al, 2008). In the National Juvenile Online Victimization Study (N-JOV), only 5% of offenders pretended to be teens when they met potential victims online; furthermore, 73% of the victims who had face-to-face sexual encounters with offenders did so more than once (Wolak, Finkelhor, & Mitchell, 2004).…”

The role of Estonian teachers in the social mediation of children’s internet use

“…Internetis tutvutud inimesega päriselus kohtumine võib täiskasvanute, eelkõige õiguskaitseametnike arvates suurendada laste seksuaalse ärakasutamise tõenäosust (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008;Wolak, Mitchell, & Finkelhor, 2003). Lapsed ise peavad internetis võõrastega suhtlemist põnevaks ja mänguliseks (Berson, 2003;Valkenburg & Peter, 2007) ning paljud neist ei nimeta internetikeskkonnas ette tulnud riskantseid olukordi enda heaolu kahjustavaks (De Graaf & Vanwesenbeeck, 2006;Livingstone & Bober, 2004;Quayle, Hutton, & McKenzie, 2012).…”

Behavioural Evidence Analysis Applied to Digital Forensics: An Empirical Analysis of Child Pornography Cases Using P2P Networks

“…Opportunities to understand this group of offenders arise when they are arrested and charged. Studies conducted by law enforcement agencies on offenders convicted of child-related sexual offences, both online and offline, indicate that a large proportion of offenders are well known to the children involved, and/or wield significant authority over them (e.g., teachers, members of the clergy, close family members) [20].…”

“…There is a relatively small body of empirical research on the behaviour and characteristics of online SEIC offenders, with an emerging body of literature examining their demographics and motivations [20]. The use of technology in the commission of SEIC offences also raises significant investigative and evidential challenges (e.g., multiple computer users), and the theoretical and empirical literature on these criminal activities is still in the early stages of development.…”