Experiences and Perceptions of Online Sexual Solicitation and Grooming of Minors: A Retrospective Report

Internet predation of minors has become a focus of child sexual abuse research and legislation. Studies reveal that many American youth report experiencing sexual solicitation and sexual grooming online, but the youth perspective of these experiences has not been examined. This study examined retros...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of child sexual abuse 2020-10, Vol.29 (7), p.836-854
Main Authors: Greene-Colozzi, Emily A., Winters, Georgia M., Blasko, Brandy, Jeglic, Elizabeth L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abused children
Adults
Child Abuse
Child abuse & neglect
Child sexual abuse
Children and adolescents
College students
Internet
internet sex crimes
Intimacy
Legislation
Online safety
Online Surveys
Perceptions
prevention
Sex crimes
Sexual grooming
Sexual intercourse
Strangers
Teenagers
victimization
Youth
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Summary:Internet predation of minors has become a focus of child sexual abuse research and legislation. Studies reveal that many American youth report experiencing sexual solicitation and sexual grooming online, but the youth perspective of these experiences has not been examined. This study examined retrospective perspectives of online sexual solicitation and grooming experienced as a minor. Participants were 1,133 undergraduate college students at two public institutions in the United States who completed an online survey retrospectively exploring Internet behaviors, experiences of online sexual solicitation or online grooming, and perceptions of the experience. Results showed that one-quarter of total participants conversed with adult strangers online as minors. Importantly, 65% of participants who chatted with adult strangers as minors experienced sexual solicitation from an adult stranger. Twenty-three percent of 1,133 total participants recalled having a long, intimate conversation as a minor with an adult stranger from an online chatroom that followed a pattern of online sexual grooming. While less than half (38%) of the youth who engaged in an intimate online relationship with an adult stranger met the adult in-person, a large majority of those who did meet in-person (68%) reported physical sexual intercourse. Implications for Internet safety and guidelines are discussed.
ISSN:1053-8712
1547-0679
DOI:10.1080/10538712.2020.1801938