Stopping Online Sexual Exploitation

 

Sexual exploitation is considered the most damaging of online harms.  It is hugely damaging for victims and is a disgusting practice carried out by twisted individuals.  This article will outline the key features of sexual exploitation online, provide information on how to report incidents, and highlight what is being done to stop this horrific practice. 

How to spot indicators of online sexual exploitation

Online Sexual exploitation can involve developing a relationship with a child to enable their abuse and exploitation both online and offline. Online platforms, such as social media, messaging and live streaming, can be used to facilitate this.  Criminals often hide within platform design, such as direct messaging but these are not the only places where exploitation can occur. 

Perpetrators use online platforms to further their goal of exploiting individuals for favours, and sometimes to facilitate continued abuse offline. Criminals can often take advantage of power imbalances, such as exploiting a minor or a junior colleague at work.

Sexual exploitation can have a severe emotional impact on victims.  If anyone you know doesn't seem right you should chat with them and offer support.  The Samaritans provide free mental health advice for people suffering crisis in the UK.  They can be contacted online or over the phone on 116 123.

Steps you can take to keep safe from exploitation

To protect yourself online you should start by keeping your privacy settings under constant review.  It's key to go back and review your settings every now and again to make sure your profile is inaccessible to those seeking to do harm.  Things like setting your account to private or limiting your messaging settings to friends only can stop you being discovered by groomers and contacted directly.

Platforms allow for the reporting of accounts that are perpatrating harm.  If you are approached by someone you do not know, ignore it but if you suspect they are trying to exploit vulnerable people it is always important to report them to stop anyone else falling victim. 

Contact the police in any instace where you feel under threat.  In the UK, the NSPCC offer expert support and advice 24/7 for anyone that requires it.  They can be contacted online or by phone on 0800 1111.

Regulation

Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have made progress in tackling online sexual exploitation but should be going so much further to protect users, particularly young people.  Governments also must do more to protect people from online sexual exploitation, which is the aim of the UK's Online Safety Act. 

Campaigners generally welcone this intervention but recognise that platforms and Governments must go further to rooting out sexual expoitation online.  So long that they delay, more and more will suffer. 

Our next post will focus in more depth on regulation and discuss how platforms and governments are taking steps to tackle grooming.

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