Study: 15 Percent of 'Net Users Age 10-15 Report Sexual Solicitation

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February 5, 2008

Study: 15 Percent of 'Net Users Age 10-15 Report Sexual Solicitation

The latest edition of "Pediatrics," the American Academy of Pediatrics' journal, has an article entitled "How Risky Are Social Networking Sites? A Comparison of Places Online Where Youth Sexual Solicitation and Harassment Occurs."

The survey queried 1,588 10- to 15-year-old youth who have used the Internet at least once in the last 6 months.

Here are some of the statistical findings:

Fifteen percent reported an unwanted sexual solicitation during the survey period
- four percent reported an incident on social networking site specifically
Thirty-three percent reported online harassment
- nine percent reported an incident on a social networking site specifically
Among targeted youth:
- instant messaging comprised 43 percent of incidents
- chat rooms comprised 32 percent of incidents
- harassment was more common in instant messaging (55 percent of incidents)
- social networking sites were involved in 27 percent of solicitations
- social networking sites were involved in 28 percent of harassment incidents
"More than twice as many youth in the survey report being harassed (32.5%) versus being solicited (15%) both on the Internet as a whole, as well as in social networking sites specifically."

The authors express concern over all the recent legislative focus on sex offenders and social networking sites, noting that a.) social networking sites are less commonly used for either sexual solicitations or harassment and b.) the focus on specific kinds of technologies or format risk distracting people from a more necessary focus on behavioral and social issues:

"Broad claims of victimization risk, at least defined as unwanted sexual solicitation or harassment, associated with social networking sites do not seem justified. Prevention efforts may have a greater impact if they focus on the psychosocial problems of youth instead of a specific Internet application, including funding for online youth outreach programs, school antibullying programs, and online mental health services."

(Link)

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