Interesting Research about Internet Victimization

Not all youth are equally at risk. Those experiencing difficulties offline, such as physical and sexual abuse, and those with other psychosocial problems are most at risk online (Mitchell et al. 2007).The most significant factor in an online connection resulting in an offline sexual encounter is the discussion of sex (Wolak et al. 2008b). Youth 15-17 years old are at the greatest risk, because they tend to engage in the riskiest behavior, and are most likely to communicate with strangers online (Wolak et al. 2008b).

Nearly all (99%) victims of Internet-initiated sex crime arrests in the N-JOV study were aged 13-17, with 76% being high school-aged, 14-17 (Wolak et al. 2007c), and none younger than 12 years old.

Interviews with police indicate that most victims are underage adolescents who know they are going to meet adults for sexual encounters and the offenses tended to fit a model of statutory rape involving a post-pubescent minor having non-forcible sexual relations with an adult, most frequently adults in their twenties (Wolak et al. 2008a).

Youth identify most sexual solicitors as being other adolescents or young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 with few coming from older adults (Finkelhor et al. 2000; Wolak et al. 2006).

44% of Internet-initiated sex crimes reported to law enforcement were committed by family members and 56% were committed by people known to the victim offline, including neighbors, friends' parents, leaders of youth organizations, and teachers; known cases involving strangers are extremely rare. (Mitchell et al. 2005b).

About a third of all reports of cyber-bullying involve "distressing harassment" Impacts from cyber-bullying victimization can lead to negative effects similar to offline bullying such as depression, anxiety, and having negative social views of themselves, alcohol and drug use, cheating at school, truancy, assaulting others, damaging property, and carrying a weapon. (Hinduja and Patchin 2007)

The percentages of youth who receive sexual solicitations online have declined from 19% in 2000 to 13% in 2006 (Finkelhor et al. 2000; Wolak et al. 2006).