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New, National Study Shows Youth Online Exposed to More Sexual Material and Harassment

A new national survey of online youth shows increases in exposure to sexual material and harassment but less sexual solicitation. However, aggressive solicitations, those in which solicitors made or attempted to make offline contact, did not decrease.

These results are reported in a study conducted by University of New Hampshire researchers for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC). The survey compared youth experiences in 1999 and 2000 with those in 2005.

Findings At-A-Glance

• Pronounced increase in Internet users ages 10 to 17 who were exposed to unwanted sexual material — fully one-third in 2005 compared to 25% previously. This rise may be attributed in part to increased time spent by this age group online; increased speed and capacity of computers and Internet connections to transmit images; and, aggressive tactics by pornography marketers.

• Greater proportion of online youth experiencing sexual harassment, which rose to 9% compared to 6% in the earlier survey. Study authors said it was consistent with growing indicators of online incivility among youth.

• Smaller proportion of online youth received online sexual solicitations — only 1 in 7 in 2005 compared to 1 in 5 in 1999 and 2000. This may be attributed to more cautious behavior by youth, fewer of whom went to chatrooms or interacted online with people they did not know. Study authors think educational messages and media stories about the dangers of online encounters may have had some benefit.

• No decline in the most serious kinds of sexual solicitations — those in which solicitors attempted to make offline contact with youth. According to study authors, this suggests the most determined offenders have not been deterred and more targeted prevention efforts may be necessary to reach some youth.