The onlife world has transformed our lives, offering numerous benefits, but it has also introduced risks for our children. One of the most concerning crimes is the production and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). In Canada, the rate of making or distributing CSAM increased by 33% between 2021 and 2022. Globally, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received over 39.5 million reports of CSAM in 2023, while Childlight.org documented 36 million online cases of CSAM between 2018 and 2022. (1)
It’s estimated that approximately 1% to 5% of the male population has pedophilia, defined as a sexual interest in children. (2)(3)(4) However, contrary to common misconceptions, pedophilia is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for committing sexual offenses against children, especially in the context of producing and distributing CSAM (5). Many individuals with a sexual preference for children never engage in criminal activities. Moreover, 40–60% of sexual offenses against children are committed by individuals without pedophilic interests. (5)
The rise in CSAM production and distribution in Canada and globally is alarming (6) It is important to note, most offenders of CSAM are individuals the child knows, loves, or trusts. (7) This trend is also reflected in the United States, where the NCMEC reports that 99% of investigated CSAM cases were created by someone the child knew. (8) However, it is also true that some offenders can also be a person that the child does not know. (9)
CSAM is notoriously difficult to defend against due to the complex and insidious nature of the crime. Because the offender is often someone the child knows, loves, and trusts—such as a family member, caregiver, or authority figure like a teacher or coach—there is a profound power imbalance. This pre-existing relationship makes it challenging for the child to recognize the abuse and feel safe enough to report it. The abuser’s authority and emotional connection with the child can lead to manipulation, coercion, and threats, further silencing the victim. Additionally, the trust and affection the child holds for the abuser can result in conflicting emotions, guilt, and confusion, which hinder disclosure and make external detection exceedingly difficult. These dynamics create an environment where the abuse can continue undetected and unchallenged, exacerbating the trauma and complicating efforts to intervene and protect the child.
Yes, CSAM is a serious and escalating online challenge, but we believe that online luring presents the greater threat to our children. Online luring involves an adult communicating with a child online to commit a sexual offense. In 2022, luring accounted for 75% of police-reported online sexual offenses against children in Canada, a by-product of which could also include the production of CSAM. (6) Many offenders never meet their victims in person, committing their crimes entirely online. However, there are cases where offenders and victims will travel long distances to meet each other as well. (10)(11)
Younger children are more likely to be victimized by someone they met for the first time in online luring incidents, compared to older youth (62% versus 45%, respectively). Girls are particularly vulnerable, with 84% of online luring victims being female. Girls aged 12 to 17 are disproportionately more likely than boys to be victims of various online sexual offenses, (6) except for sextortion, where teen boys are more often targeted. (12)
As parents, there are several proactive steps you can take to protect your children from these online threats:
- Foster an environment where your children feel comfortable discussing their online activities and any concerning interactions they come across.
- Educate your children about the risks of sharing personal information and images online. Explain the tactics used by online predators and the importance of maintaining privacy – we have written a whole chapter in our free web book for parents on this issue. (13)
- For pre-teens and younger teens, keep an eye on your children’s online activities. Utilize parental controls and regularly check their social media accounts to ensure they are not engaging with strangers.
- Teach your children to recognize and reject inappropriate requests or interactions online. Make sure they know how to block and report suspicious users.
- Move away from teaching “stranger danger” and move to teaching “situational danger” (14)
- Be aware of resources such as hotlines and counseling services that can offer support if your child becomes a victim of online exploitation.
The onlife world, while offering numerous benefits, has also brought risks for our children, with Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and the bigger challenge of online luring posing serious threats. The alarming rise in CSAM by someone the child often knows, loves, and trusts, and the prevalence of online luring highlight the need for vigilance and proactive measures. As parents and caregivers, fostering open communication, educating children about online risks, monitoring their activities, empowering them to reject inappropriate interactions, and being aware of support resources are crucial steps in keeping them safer. By staying informed and engaged, we can help safeguard our children from the dangers that may be lurking in the onlife world.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
References:
1/ https://childlight.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/into-the-light.pdf
2/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19929918/
3/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26241201/
4/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31916860/
5/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7460489/#B8-ijerph-17-05739
6/ https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2024001/article/00003-eng.htm
7/ https://content.c3p.ca/pdfs/C3P_ProductionOfCSAM_ExecutiveSummary_en.pdf
8/ https://www.missingkids.org/cybertiplinedata
12/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/sextortion/
13/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/online-sexual-predation-and-exploitation/
14/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/why-teaching-stranger-danger-doesnt-work-an-onlife-world-perspective/
