What is Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation?
❓What is Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation?
Child Online Sexual Abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activity, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This may include activities such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways or grooming a child in preparation for abuse.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a form of CSA. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the activity appears consensual.
📍 Who is at Risk?
Any child or teenager using the internet and digital devices can be at risk of online sexual exploitation. Exploiters often target children who may be lonely, seeking attention or affection, or unaware of online dangers. Children who spend a lot of time on social media, gaming platforms, or chat apps—especially without supervision—are more vulnerable.
Children who have experienced bullying, neglect, family issues, or low self-esteem may also be at higher risk, as exploiters can exploit their emotional vulnerabilities. Importantly, exploitation can happen to children of all ages, backgrounds, and genders—no child is immune.
🚨Who are the exploiters?
Exploiters can be anyone who uses the internet or digital technology to harm children. They often pose as peers or trustworthy adults to gain a child’s trust. These individuals may be strangers who pretend to be friends or someone the child already knows but hides their true intentions.
Exploiters use grooming techniques like flattery, attention, gifts, or emotional support to manipulate children. They may also use threats, shame, or blackmail—especially if the child has shared personal or sexual images—to control and silence them.
These offenders can operate from anywhere in the world, taking advantage of the anonymity the internet provides.
⚠️ How Exploiters Target Children
Exploiters often use these tactics:
Targeting the Victim
The exploiter identifies a vulnerable child, often one seeking attention or affection.
Gaining Trust
They build a relationship by pretending to care, listening, and showing understanding.
Filling a Need
The exploiter offers gifts, compliments, or emotional support to make the child feel special.
Isolation
They try to separate the child from family or friends, encouraging secrecy about their interactions.
Sexualising the Relationship
The exploiter introduces sexual topics, sends inappropriate images, or asks for sexual content.
Maintaining Control
They use threats, guilt, or blackmail (like sharing private images) to keep the child silent and compliant.
📱 Platforms Commonly Used for Exploitation
Online platforms and games are popular with children and teens, but some platforms have features that exploiters can misuse, such as chat functions, friend requests, and live streaming.
The most common apps, platforms and games where children are groomed and exploited include:
Online Games & Gaming Platforms
Child online sexual exploitation is carried out through various methods, often taking advantage of the internet’s anonymity and the child’s trust. Common ways include:
🧭 Signs a Child May Be Exploited Online
Some children do not display obvious indicators that they are being sexually exploited or the vulnerabilities. However, a child being exploited online may become withdrawn, anxious, or secretive about their online activity. They might hide their screen, delete messages, or use unfamiliar apps. Changes in mood, social circles, or unexplained gifts can also be warning signs. While these don’t always mean exploitation, they are important signals to watch for and discuss openly with your child.
🛑Impact of online child sexual exploitation
Online child sexual exploitation causes severe and lasting harm. Victims often suffer from trauma, anxiety, and shame, which can impact their mental health, relationships, and education. Families experience stress and emotional turmoil, while society faces legal, economic, and safety challenges.
Child Online Sexual Abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activity, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This may include activities such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways or grooming a child in preparation for abuse.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a form of CSA. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the activity appears consensual.
📍 Who is at Risk?
Any child or teenager using the internet and digital devices can be at risk of online sexual exploitation. Exploiters often target children who may be lonely, seeking attention or affection, or unaware of online dangers. Children who spend a lot of time on social media, gaming platforms, or chat apps—especially without supervision—are more vulnerable.
Children who have experienced bullying, neglect, family issues, or low self-esteem may also be at higher risk, as exploiters can exploit their emotional vulnerabilities. Importantly, exploitation can happen to children of all ages, backgrounds, and genders—no child is immune.
🚨Who are the exploiters?
Exploiters can be anyone who uses the internet or digital technology to harm children. They often pose as peers or trustworthy adults to gain a child’s trust. These individuals may be strangers who pretend to be friends or someone the child already knows but hides their true intentions.
Exploiters use grooming techniques like flattery, attention, gifts, or emotional support to manipulate children. They may also use threats, shame, or blackmail—especially if the child has shared personal or sexual images—to control and silence them.
These offenders can operate from anywhere in the world, taking advantage of the anonymity the internet provides.
⚠️ How Exploiters Target Children
Exploiters often use these tactics:
Targeting the Victim
The exploiter identifies a vulnerable child, often one seeking attention or affection.
Gaining Trust
They build a relationship by pretending to care, listening, and showing understanding.
Filling a Need
The exploiter offers gifts, compliments, or emotional support to make the child feel special.
Isolation
They try to separate the child from family or friends, encouraging secrecy about their interactions.
Sexualising the Relationship
The exploiter introduces sexual topics, sends inappropriate images, or asks for sexual content.
Maintaining Control
They use threats, guilt, or blackmail (like sharing private images) to keep the child silent and compliant.
📱 Platforms Commonly Used for Exploitation
Online platforms and games are popular with children and teens, but some platforms have features that exploiters can misuse, such as chat functions, friend requests, and live streaming.
The most common apps, platforms and games where children are groomed and exploited include:
- TikTok — Popular for short videos, but private messaging can be risky.
- Instagram — Direct messaging and Stories features are often exploited.
- Snapchat — Ephemeral messages and snaps make monitoring difficult.
- Facebook Messenger — Messaging and groups can expose children.
- WhatsApp — Encrypted messaging used for private communication.
- Discord — Popular among gamers; private servers can hide grooming.
- Telegram — Encrypted chats and large groups sometimes used by predators.
- Monkey — Random video/text chat with strangers.
- Kik — Known for private messaging, often unmonitored.
- YouTube — Comments, live chats during streams, and private messaging.
Online Games & Gaming Platforms
- Roblox — Highly popular with children; chat features can be exploited.
- Minecraft — Multiplayer servers with chat can be vulnerable.
- Fortnite — Voice and text chat among players.
- Among Us — Voice and text chat used by players.
- Call of Duty — Voice chat and multiplayer features.
- GTA Online — Open-world interaction with chat.
Child online sexual exploitation is carried out through various methods, often taking advantage of the internet’s anonymity and the child’s trust. Common ways include:
- Grooming through messaging apps and social media: Exploiters build emotional connections by chatting privately, often over days, weeks, or months.
- Sending and requesting sexual images or videos: They may pressure children to share explicit content, which can then be used for blackmail (sextortion).
- Live streaming abuse: Some exploiters force or coerce children to perform sexual acts live over video calls or streams.
- Impersonation and fake profiles: Offenders pretend to be peers, trusted adults, or even celebrities to lure children.
- Using online games and chatrooms: Exploiters exploit chat features to initiate contact and groom children.
- Threats and manipulation: Once they have compromising material, exploiters threaten to share it publicly or with family unless the child complies.
🧭 Signs a Child May Be Exploited Online
Some children do not display obvious indicators that they are being sexually exploited or the vulnerabilities. However, a child being exploited online may become withdrawn, anxious, or secretive about their online activity. They might hide their screen, delete messages, or use unfamiliar apps. Changes in mood, social circles, or unexplained gifts can also be warning signs. While these don’t always mean exploitation, they are important signals to watch for and discuss openly with your child.
🛑Impact of online child sexual exploitation
Online child sexual exploitation causes severe and lasting harm. Victims often suffer from trauma, anxiety, and shame, which can impact their mental health, relationships, and education. Families experience stress and emotional turmoil, while society faces legal, economic, and safety challenges.
