Online Child Sexual Abuse – Technology: Friend or Foe?
Online child sexual abuse. Technology has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few years. It has made our lives easier in so many ways, from being able to communicate with loved ones who live far away to helping us get where we need to go. But is it always a good thing? In California, there have been several well-publicized cases of child sexual abuse that have been facilitated by technology. While law enforcement and child protective services are working to crack down on this problem, it is still a serious issue in the state.
Our California child sex abuse lawyer at Beck Law P.C. discusses this below.
Defining Online Child Sexual Abuse
There is no single definition of “online child sexual abuse.” Still, it generally refers to any form of sexual exploitation or abuse that happens online, whether through the use of the internet or other digital technologies. This can include everything from grooming and coercion to live streaming of abuse.
One key difference between online and offline child sexual abuse is that the internet provides a unique platform for offenders to groom and target victims. They can do this anonymously and without ever having to meet them in person, which makes it much harder for victims to identify and report the abuse.
The Possible Solutions To Address Online Child Sexual Abuse
The more time kids spend online, the greater the chances they will come into contact with someone who might sexually abuse them. So, limiting internet access may help reduce the amount of personal information that kids make available online. This is important because predators often use personal information to lure their victims. Also, cutting back on internet access can help reduce the chances that kids will stumble across obscene or pornographic material online.
Therefore, should we terminate our kids’ internet use to stop online sexual abuse of our children? Well no. This is because the internet is not the foe, irrespective of the number of bad actors there may be on it.
Given that the internet can also be very beneficial (e.g., for online learning, talking to parents, etc.), we should instead create awareness about online sexual abuse and teach our children how to stay safe online.
Teaching Your Children To Stay Safe Online
As the internet becomes more and more a part of everyday life, it’s essential to teach your children how to stay safe online. Here are a few tips to get you started:
a. Explain that not everything on the internet is true. Just because something is online doesn’t mean it’s accurate. Help them learn to be critical thinkers by evaluating what they read and see online.
b. Teach them about sexual crimes and how to deal with them. No one deserves to be a victim of online sexual abuse, no matter what platform it happens on. Explain to them that they must speak to you right away when they see (or sense) it happening.
c. Make sure they know never to give out personal information online. This includes their full name, address, phone number, school name, or anything else that could identify them.
What Should You Do if You Suspect Child Sexual Abuse?
In conclusion, it is clear that technology can be both a friend and a foe. While it can help us connect with others and access information, it can also be used for online sexual abuse to harm our young ones. If you suspect a case of child sexual abuse, speak to our California child sex abuse attorney at Beck Law P.C. We can provide you with consultation sessions and assist you in filing a lawsuit against the responsible party.
