One in 12 kids exposed to online sexual abuse: Study

THE STUDY ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR NEW POLICY ACTION TO PROTECT KIDS FROM POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH HARMS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

- Rhythma Kaul

NEW DELHI: One in 12 children globally has, at one time or other, been exposed to online sexual exploitation or abuse, according to a new study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health on Tuesday, the first such assessment.

Online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) is a global public health issue that is rapidly escalating due to fast-paced development and access to social media and other virtual contexts. It refers to a range of sexually abusive and exploitative behaviours that occurs either online or through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), including online solicitation, online grooming, exposure to pornography, unwanted or pressured sexting, image-based abuse, sexual extortion, and sexual exploitation.