The virtual simulation of child sexual abuse: online gameworld users’ views, understanding and responses to sexual ageplay

Abstract

This paper explores cultural understandings of virtual sexual ageplay in the online world of Second Life. Online sexual ageplay is the virtual simulation of child abuse by consensual adults operating in-world with child computer characters (avatars). Second Life is primarily governed by Community Standards which rely on residents (the users of Second Life) to recognise sexual ageplay and report it, which requires an appreciation of how residents view, understand and construct sexual ageplay. The research presented drew on 12 months of resident blog posts referring to sexual ageplay: 263 total, with 91 residents. The analysis of this talk explores the cultural understandings of this banned behaviour and beliefs about the nature of Second Life which underpin residents' likelihood to report sexual ageplay and so comply with the Community Standards. In considering these issues the paper is able to highlight issues regarding the unique cultural position of abuse against children and key concerns which underpin the reporting behaviour of residents. Key considerations relate to defining online sexual activity and child avatars; the moral status of 'reporters', and sexual ageplay as a form of edgeplay; belief in the harmfulness of sexual ageplay and its relationship to real world behaviours.

Sexual Interaction in Digital Contexts and Its Implications for Sexual Health: A Conceptual Analysis

“…Interestingly, experiments have shown that virtual touch of the avatar body one is wearing is related to erotic experiences (Mello et al, 2021). Non-consensual practices, such as virtual rape or sexual interactions with avatars that look like children, are also known and have been met with vivid discussions in the research community regarding their ethical and legal implications (Strikwerda, 2015;Reeves, 2018). New emerging technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), become more and more widespread.…”

The Ethics of Virtual Sexual Assault

“…What is noteworthy about them, however, is that most contributors to the debate accept the starting position that representing and engaging in acts of virtual child sexual abuse is immoral. This stance is backed up by studies of users of virtual social platforms such as Second Life, who generally see sexual 'ageplay' (when adult users of the platform play at being children engaging in sexual acts) as something that transgresses or lies at the extreme edge of what is acceptable on the platform (Reeves 2018). This supports the notion that there is something different about virtual sexual immorality in most people's minds.…”