Online victimization of youth: 5 years later
Cita bibliográfica: Wolak, J. Mitchell, K.J., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: 5 years later. Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
The Internet holds tremendous potential for our nation’s youth; however, the misuse of the Internet to prey on them is a serious problem requiring action by legislators, families, communities, and law enforcement. While we have made some strides in helping to prevent such victimization, the results of this survey, Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later, shows we have not done enough. Exposure to unwanted sexual material, sexual solicitations, and harassment were frequently reported by the youth interviewed for this study. While we are encouraged by the smaller proportion of youth who received unwanted sexual solicitations, we are disturbed by a new trend of solicitors asking youth to provide sexual pictures of themselves.
These results call for a more aggressive prevention plan. While we strongly believe in the power of the Internet to provide valuable information for those of all ages, we also believe children need extra attention and guidance as they venture online, because they, more than any other group of the population, are most vulnerable to risks found on the Internet.
The U.S. Congress has already taken action through legislation such as the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (Public Law 105-277) to help safeguard youth from unsavory advertising practices and the registration of personal information without parental consent. The enactment of the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act (Public Law 108-21) enhanced the ability of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute cases of child sexual exploitation on the Internet. Additionally, numerous private and public organizations have implemented Internet safety campaigns including pamphlets, web sites, and public-service announcements, to educate youth about safer Internet use.
The growing evidence of the criminal misuse of cyberspace to target and physically victimize children, however, is alarming to us as grandparents and legislators. As detailed in this report, the risks to children, particularly teenagers, in cyberspace include exposure to Unwanted sexual solicitations (1 in 7 youth) Unwanted exposure to sexual material (1 in 3 youth) Harassment —threatening or other offensive behavior directed at them (1 in 11 youth).