RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
16
ONLINE GROOMING
WHAT IS IT?
Online grooming occurs when an adult makes online contact with someone under the
age of 16 with the intention of engaging in sexual activity (child sex abuse). The offence
is committed in the communication phase so no physical contact need ever occur for
police to step in, investigate and arrest offenders.
Some offenders pretend to be another young person and develop a friendship with the
child, however, a large proportion are upfront with the fact that they are an adult but
make the child feel as though an adult-child relationship of this nature is acceptable or
normal. Online sex offenders are often very skilled at manipulating children and young
people and may ‘groom’ multiple children simultaneously.
Some offenders will use the anonymity and disinhibition provided by the internet to
quickly raise requests for sex with a child or young person. Other offenders may use a
gradual approach where a friendship is established, sexual concepts are introduced, the
child is exposed to adult pornography and child exploitation material, and finally asked to
create their own or meet up for sex.
WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?
People may be involved in online grooming for financial or sexual purposes. Sadly, the
global trade in child abuse material is worth billions of dollars each year.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
Many instances of online grooming are not visible to parents, carers or teachers, and
may go unreported. It is important that children and young people are aware of the
potential challenge of online grooming and what they should do if someone online makes
them feel uncomfortable. Parents, carers and teachers may also wish to keep an eye out
for the following potential warning signs of online grooming:
`` Aggressive and secretive behaviour when questioned about their online
activities—this may seem typical of teenagers but when it is outside the child’s
normal behavioural pattern, it may be an indication that they are being manipulated
by an offender online.
`` Unexplained gifts or cash—both tangible and/or virtual gifts, perhaps given as a
gesture of friendship or as payment for some behaviour on the child’s part.
`` Change in the use of sexual language—as part of the grooming process, an
offender may introduce sexual concepts into the conversation, show the child
adult pornography then child exploitation material, and even ask the child to
produce their own child exploitation material. This can have an effect on the
language used by the child, as new sexual concepts are introduced.