Online Grooming - What Is It, and How Does It Affect Young People?

Hello Shielded Space,

Did you know?

“68.97% of tweens and 90.73% of teens encountered sexual content online.

Only 7% of parents knew their kids received inappropriate content from adults.

Online predator reports increased by 106% early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

40% of children from grades four to eight experienced online chatting with strangers.” - Source

So, today, we will talk about a topic that continues to threaten the safety and well-being of young children online – Online Grooming. Many of us are familiar with the term 'grooming,' but how does it play out online?

WHAT IS GROOMING?

Grooming has always existed before the internet. It is a process where an adult builds a friendship or relationship with a child in order to gain their trust and exploit them, sexually or otherwise. It can take place over weeks, months, or even years. The groomer will often start by befriending the child and gaining their trust. They may pretend to be someone they are not, such as a child themselves or a teenager. They may also flatter the child and make them feel special.

Once the groomer has gained the child's trust, they will start to ask for more and more personal information. They may also start to make sexual comments or requests. The child may feel pressured to comply with these requests, as they may feel like they owe the groomer something or that they will be abandoned if they do not comply. Grooming can happen online or offline. When it happens online, it is called Online Grooming.

WHAT IS ONLINE GROOMING?

Online Grooming is when the grooming takes place over the internet, through platforms such as social media, gaming, and chat rooms. It is a process in which a predator gains a child's trust and builds an emotional connection with them through a range of communication methods, including social media, online gaming, and messaging apps. It is a serious crime that can have a devastating impact on children, as the relationship built with the child is solely in order to exploit them.

Predators often spend significant amounts of time messaging their targets, sending them gifts or other incentives, and attempting to isolate them from their friends and family. The groomer may use the internet to create a false identity, to gain the child's trust, and to exploit them. Through these tactics, predators seek to manipulate and exploit young children for their own gratification. This can involve anything from sending explicit images or videos to meeting up in person.

Alarmingly, the ease and anonymity of the internet has made online grooming a growing problem. With the increasing number of children being active online, predators can avoid face-to-face interactions and remain hidden behind online identities. Unfortunately, these tactics can have devastating consequences, leading to sexual exploitation, abduction, or other traumatic incidents.

HOW DOES ONLINE GROOMING EXPLOIT CHILDREN?

Online grooming can be used to exploit children in a number of ways. The groomer may use the child's images or videos to blackmail them or to share them with others. They may also meet up with the child in person and sexually abuse them. There are many ways that online grooming can be used to exploit children. Here are a few examples:

·     Sexual abuse: The groomer may use the child's images or videos to blackmail them or to share them with others. They may also meet up with the child in person and sexually abuse them.

·     Trafficking: The groomer may traffic the child for sexual exploitation or other forms of exploitation, such as forced labour or organ harvesting. 

·   Financial exploitation: The groomer may use the child to commit financial crimes, such as fraud or identity theft.

·    Cyberbullying: The groomer may use the internet to bully or harass the child. This can have a devastating impact on the child's mental health.

·   Recruitment for extremist groups: The groomer may recruit the child to join an extremist group. This can put the child at risk of radicalization and violence.

WHAT FACTORS MAKE CHILDREN SUSCEPTIBLE TO GROOMING?

Any child can be groomed, regardless of their age, gender, or background. However, there are some factors that can make a child more vulnerable to grooming, such as:

·        Being a young teenager

·        Having low self-esteem

·        Being feeling isolated or lonely

·        Having a history of abuse or neglect

·        Having parents who are neglectful or abusive

·   The atmosphere at home can also play a role in a child's vulnerability to online grooming. Children who live in homes where there is conflict, violence, or substance abuse may be more likely to seek out attention and support online from someone who seems kind and understanding.

INDICATORS OF ONLINE GROOMING

If you suspect your child is being groomed online, there are a number of signs to look out for. These include:

·        Your child has made new online friends who they don't want you to meet.

·        Your child is secretive about their online activity.

·        Your child has started to behave differently, such as becoming withdrawn or anxious.

·        Your child has received explicit images or videos online.

Most importantly, if you think your child is being groomed online, it is important to act immediately. You should talk to your child about what is happening and report it to relevant authorities. You can also get help and support from local and internationalorganisations here.

In a subsequent post, I will discuss the signs of online grooming in detail, and how to protect your children from this potential danger. In the meantime, ensure that your child has a safe and open space to share their online experiences with you. Keep communication channels open, and take time to discuss the importance of online privacy and safety with your children. Remember, knowledge is power and plays an essential role in safeguarding our children's future.