Are you a cop?: Identifying suspicion in online chat operations with online groomers.

BACKGROUND: The increase in online enticement has led to law enforcement agencies engaging in more proactive policing through undercover chat sting operations. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify the topics and communication strategies triggering suspicion in chats between law enforcement officers and offenders and why those topics do not result in suspicion in victim-offender conversations. METHODS: We conducted a thematic analysis identifying: (1) how LEOs trigger suspicion, (2) how offenders communicate suspicion, (3) how LEOs attempt recovery from suspicion, and (4) how these triggers were present but did not trigger suspicion in victim-offender chats. We examined 20 LEO-offender chats and 20 victim-offender chats from US ICAC task forces. RESULTS: We identified four themes that triggered suspicion: risk assessment by the LEO's persona, LEO avoidance measures, details related to the offense and evidence, and proof of identity of chat participants. Offender responses to triggers revealed three themes: discomfort navigating boundaries and uncertainty, risk identification, and risk mitigation. Themes for the LEO's responses to suspicion included: risk assessment for chatters, issues with technology, appeasement, and negative emotional reactions. Finally, juxtaposing triggers onto minor-offender chats yielded four themes: explicit boundary setting, victim risk assessment, deep relationship forming and disclosures, and technology issues. CONCLUSION: This study has implications for law enforcement agencies seeking to reduce suspicion and risk assessment by offenders during internet sting operations.

What are practitioners' views of how digital health interventions may play a role in online child sexual abuse service delivery?

Introduction: Online child sexual abuse (OCSA) affects considerable numbers of children globally and is associated with a variety of mental health problems. Existing practitioner studies suggest that young people are infrequently asked about online abuse and practitioners have a fragmented understanding of the problems experienced or how they might approach them. There are very few evidence-based interventions that guide clinical assessment or practice. Digital Health Interventions (DHIs) have the potential to be an effective option where children and young people's services are challenged, including accessibility and anonymity. The aim of this study was to explore mental health practitioners' views of how DHIs may play a role in supporting young people who have experienced OCSA, and the role they can play in healthcare delivery. Method: In-depth qualitative interviews and one focus group were conducted with 25 child mental health professionals across two sites (Manchester and Edinburgh). Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Three overarching themes and 9 sub-themes were identified: (1) feeling a little bit lost; (2) seeing potential problems; and (3) knowing what works. Practitioners expressed interest in a DHI to support this client group and saw it as a way of managing waiting lists and complementing existing therapies. They felt that many young people would see this as a preferred medium to in-person therapy, would be empowering, and offers new ways of learning how to stay safe online. However, there were concerns about how much time would be needed by staff to deliver a DHI, anxieties about safety issues in relation to content and data protection, some of which may be unique to this population of young people, and concerns about the absence of a therapeutic relationship with vulnerable children. Discussion: Our findings indicated that practitioners were uncertain about working with children subjected to OCSA but were receptive to the possibility of using a DHI to support their practice and to reduce waiting lists. Concerns were expressed about the time needed for staff training and support as well as concerns over patient safety and the lack of evidence about the effectiveness of an unsupported DHI.

Perpetrators' Identity in Online Crimes Against Children: A Meta-Analysis.

Public and police concern about internet crimes against children has been primarily typified as a stranger danger problem. However, existing research suggests a variety of perpetrator ages and relationships to the victim. A more accurate estimate will help inform prevention efforts. This study provides a meta-analysis examining the identity of perpetrators in internet crimes against children. Databases were searched for published and unpublished studies using a detailed search strategy. In total, 32 studies met full inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria was the following: (1) the victim sample consisted of children under the age of 18 years or young adults (18-25) asked to respond retrospectively; (2) the study victims experienced abuse through the use of technology; (3) the study reported the identity of the perpetrator, either the relationship to the victim or the age of the perpetrator; (4) the study was available in English. The overall proportion of offenders under the age of 18 as a proportion of all identified offenders was 44% (95% CI: 0.28-0.60). The overall proportion of acquaintance and family offenders as a proportion of all identified offenders was 68% (95% CI: 0.62-0.75). Between study variability was explained by data source, with higher proportion of juvenile offenders in studies using survey data. This meta-analysis confirms that most perpetrators of online crimes against children are not strangers to their victims and a large portion of perpetrators are juveniles. Prevention education needs to focus more on inappropriate behavior from anyone in addition to the dangers about communicating with strangers.

A taxonomy of groomer profiles: Comparisons of in-person, online, and mixed groomers through the examination of Canadian judicial decisions.

BACKGROUND: Sexual grooming in cases of child sexual abuse (CSA) has captured the attention of researchers over the past decades. While early research focused on offenders who groomed children in person, our knowledge of online groomers has begun to increase. However, there has not been a concomitant increase in understanding of groomers who use both in-person and online grooming strategies (i.e., mixed groomers); it is not clear if mixed groomers more closely resemble in-person groomers, online groomers, or if they are their own distinct groomer type. OBJECTIVE: The current study creates the first taxonomy of in-person, online, and mixed groomer profiles through the empirical analysis of Canadian judicial decisions. PARTICIPANTS, SETTING, AND METHODS: 180 Canadian judicial decisions from 153 cases of CSA involving grooming were extracted from the Canadian Legal Information Institute and coded for information related to grooming strategies, the accused, the complainant, and the alleged offence. RESULTS: Mixed groomers used more grooming strategies per case than in-person and online groomers. Mixed groomers initiated contact online with complainants less often than online groomers, but identified more vulnerable victims, engaged in more non-sexual yet inappropriate conversations, and used more gain cooperation strategies than in-person groomers. Online groomers were older and had shorter delays to criminal proceedings than mixed and in-person groomers. Complainants groomed in person were younger and abused for longer durations than mixed and online complainants. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed taxonomy of groomer profiles can inform education and prevention programs about the heterogeneous nature of grooming. Those who groomed children in-person, online, or using a mixture of both methods varied greatly in their grooming strategies, victim age preferences, relationship to the child, and pathways to disclosure.

A Growth Mindset and Self-Affirmation Intervention to Reduce Violent and Risky Online Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Previous Victimization.

The Internet is the setting for several forms of violent and risky behavior among adolescents, such as cyberbullying, sexualized interactions with adults, sexting, and online dating violence. Often, these behaviors are responses to experiences of online victimization. This study examined the differential effects of a wise intervention (WI), combining growth mindset and self-affirmation strategies, on these behaviors for adolescents who had experienced victimization and those who had not. A sample of 1,085 adolescents (54.3% girls; ages 11-18 years) were randomized into two intervention conditions (WI and an anti-stress control intervention). They completed measures of violent and risky behaviors at pretest and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups and measures of victimization at pretest. The results of multilevel analyses indicated that the WI was beneficial for adolescents without experiences of victimization at pretest, as they displayed smaller increases in online peer aggressions, sexualized interactions with adults, and sexting than the adolescents in the control condition. However, the WI was not beneficial for adolescents with experiences of victimization at pretest. Moreover, the adolescents under the anti-stress control condition displayed better outcome. These findings suggest that previous victimization experiences of adolescents should be considered to select an appropriate intervention.

A Preventive Intervention to Reduce Risk of Online Grooming Among Adolescents

Sexual abuse of adolescents by adults on the Internet is a severe risk with negative consequences for the victims. However, there is an important gap in the development of preventive interventions to address this problem. This study evaluated the efficacy of a brief (less than one hour) educational intervention on online grooming (less than one hour) in reducing adolescents’ sexual interaction behaviors with adults when they are sexually solicited. A sample of 856 Spanish adolescents (48% girls, ages 11-17 years) was randomized into two intervention conditions (educational intervention about online grooming and a resilience control intervention). Adolescents completed measures of online sexual solicitation by adults and sexualized interactions with adults at pretest and at three- and six-month follow-ups. Measures of their knowledge about online grooming were taken at pretest, postintervention, and at three- and six-month follow-ups. The results of multilevel analyses indicated that the intervention reduced sexualized interactions when adolescents were sexually solicited by adults (β = -.16, SD = .07, t = -2.44, p = .015). Moreover, the intervention increased adolescents’ knowledge about online grooming over time (β = 1.95, SD = .19, t = 10.52, p < .001). These findings suggest that a brief educational intervention about online grooming may be a promising, low-cost intervention to reduce the risks of sexual abuse on the Internet. (AU)

El abuso sexual de adolescentes por parte de adultos en Internet (grooming online) es un riesgo grave con consecuencias negativas para las víctimas. Sin embargo, existe un importante vacío en el desarrollo de intervenciones preventivas para abordar este problema. Este estudio evalúa la eficacia de una intervención educativa breve (menos de una hora) sobre el grooming online para disminuir las conductas de interacción sexual de los adolescentes con adultos cuando son solicitados sexualmente. Una muestra de 856 adolescentes españoles (48% chicas; edades entre 11 y 17 años) fue aleatorizada en dos condiciones de intervención (intervención educativa sobre el grooming online y una intervención control de resiliencia). A los adolescentes se les aplicaron medidas de solicitud sexual online por parte de adultos e interacciones sexualizadas con adultos en la línea base y en los seguimientos a tres y seis meses. Además, se tomaron medidas sobre conocimiento del grooming online en la línea base, después de la intervención y en los seguimientos a tres y seis meses. Los resultados de los análisis multinivel indicaron que la intervención redujo las interacciones sexualizadas cuando los adolescentes eran solicitados sexualmente por adultos (β = -.16, SD = .07, t = -2.44, p = .015). Por otra parte, la intervención aumentó los conocimientos de los adolescentes sobre grooming online a lo largo del tiempo (β = 1.95, SD = .19, t = 10.52, p < .001). Estos resultados sugieren que una breve intervención educativa sobre grooming online puede ser prometedora y de bajo coste para reducir los riesgos de abuso sexual en Internet. (AU)

Understanding online grooming: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of adolescents' offline meetings with adult perpetrators.

BACKGROUND: It is the norm for adolescents to form friendships online but connecting with strangers poses risks of online grooming. Adult perpetrators take advantage of the internet's anonymity and accessibility to befriend and groom young people for sexual abuse. Much of the existing research has focused on the offender's perspective and grooming tactics, while extensive studies on victim profiles have focused on risk factors and young people's vulnerabilities to online grooming. OBJECTIVE: This research takes an in-depth look into grooming processes from the perspective of the adolescent victim and explores how the relationships progressed online-to-offline, resulting in sexual abuse. It aims to understand young people's motivations and mindsets by exploring their lived experiences of offline meeting with adult perpetrators. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The sample consisted of adolescents aged 14-21 in the UK and EU. METHODS: Using data from the Risk-taking Online Behavior Empowerment through Research and Training Project, six interviews were examined using an interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: 1) Varied interpretations of risk 2) Taking control 3) Seeking security and validation; and 4) Shifts in perspective. The subtleties of online grooming were masked by the adolescents' misplaced trust as they displayed agency in pursuing opportunities for online friendships or sexual activities. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest an insufficient knowledge of grooming and the need to more clearly define risks among adolescents. Safety guidelines should highlight the subtleties of grooming tactics and harmful behaviours that may not be readily perceived as abuse.

A Preventive Intervention to Reduce Risk of Online Grooming Among Adolescents.

Sexual abuse of adolescents by adults on the Internet is a severe risk with negative consequences for the victims. However, there is an important gap in the development of preventive interventions to address this problem. This study evaluated the efficacy of a brief (less than one hour) educational intervention on online grooming (less than one hour) in reducing adolescents' sexual interaction behaviors with adults when they are sexually solicited. A sample of 856 Spanish adolescents (48% girls, ages 11-17 years) was randomized into two intervention conditions (educational intervention about online grooming and a resilience control intervention). Adolescents completed measures of online sexual solicitation by adults and sexualized interactions with adults at pretest and at three- and six-month follow-ups. Measures of their knowledge about online grooming were taken at pretest, postintervention, and at three- and six-month follow-ups. The results of multilevel analyses indicated that the intervention reduced sexualized interactions when adolescents were sexually solicited by adults (ß = -.16, SD = .07, t = -2.44, p = .015). Moreover, the intervention increased adolescents' knowledge about online grooming over time (ß = 1.95, SD = .19, t = 10.52, p < .001). These findings suggest that a brief educational intervention about online grooming may be a promising, low-cost intervention to reduce the risks of sexual abuse on the Internet.

El abuso sexual de adolescentes por parte de adultos en Internet (grooming online) es un riesgo grave con consecuencias negativas para las víctimas. Sin embargo, existe un importante vacío en el desarrollo de intervenciones preventivas para abordar este problema. Este estudio evalúa la eficacia de una intervención educativa breve (menos de una hora) sobre el grooming online para disminuir las conductas de interacción sexual de los adolescentes con adultos cuando son solicitados sexualmente. Una muestra de 856 adolescentes españoles (48% chicas; edades entre 11 y 17 años) fue aleatorizada en dos condiciones de intervención (intervención educativa sobre el grooming online y una intervención control de resiliencia). A los adolescentes se les aplicaron medidas de solicitud sexual online por parte de adultos e interacciones sexualizadas con adultos en la línea base y en los seguimientos a tres y seis meses. Además, se tomaron medidas sobre conocimiento del grooming online en la línea base, después de la intervención y en los seguimientos a tres y seis meses. Los resultados de los análisis multinivel indicaron que la intervención redujo las interacciones sexualizadas cuando los adolescentes eran solicitados sexualmente por adultos (ß = -.16, SD = .07, t = -2.44, p = .015). Por otra parte, la intervención aumentó los conocimientos de los adolescentes sobre grooming online a lo largo del tiempo (ß = 1.95, SD = .19, t = 10.52, p < .001). Estos resultados sugieren que una breve intervención educativa sobre grooming online puede ser prometedora y de bajo coste para reducir los riesgos de abuso sexual en Internet.

Offender strategies for engaging children in online sexual activity.

BACKGROUND: Following technological developments, there has been increasing interest in online offenders' use of digital communication technology to sexually groom and abuse children. However, research has thus far primarily explored offenders' interactions with decoys instead of actual children, and initial evidence indicates that conversations with actual children may include more overt persuasion and extortion than conversations with decoys. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe online offenders' interactions with actual children when inciting them to engage in online sexual activity. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Swedish court judgements including 50 offenders (aged 16-69, median = 28.9) and 122 child victims (aged 7-17, median = 13.0) were analyzed. METHODS: By using an explorative mixed-methods approach, we thematically analyzed what strategies the children were exposed to, and looked for patterns between the strategy used and the characteristics of the abuse, victim, or offender. RESULTS: We identified two types of strategies that the children were exposed to: pressure (threats, bribes, or nagging, N = 56), and sweet-talk (flattery, acting as a friend, or expressing love, N = 25). Overall, the offenders who used pressure were younger and targeted older children than the offenders who used sweet-talk. CONCLUSIONS: This study expands the existing knowledge about the variety of manipulative strategies used by online offenders and adds support to the initial literature showing substantially more pressure and coercion in online offenders' interactions with actual children. The study also identifies some patterns between the strategy used and the age of the offender and victim that warrant further investigation in future studies.

Teaching privacy: A flawed strategy for children's online safety.

Teaching young people about "privacy" has serious defects if the goal is to promote children's online safety. This commentary points out some the key problems to programs and educational modules with this privacy orientation. Privacy is an abstract and complicated concept, whose norms are in flux, making it difficult to impart clear, relevant, consensus-based messages. We also know very little about how privacy concepts develop in childhood and at what age and in what sequence, making it hard to know what to teach and when. Privacy skills are not necessarily the most important ones for preventing most online harms, including the most serious ones, casting doubt on whether they should receive priority over other prevention skills. Research has also not clearly established connections between many privacy practices and reductions in harm. Most privacy messaging has not been evaluated for how well it is learned, applied and what forms of safety it enhances. As an alternative, the promotion of online safety is best organized, not around privacy, but around the specific harms that educators and children themselves are trying to prevent. The highest priority of these are sexual exploitation, peer bullying and harassment. Such educational safety programs are best built from the foundation of evidence-based programs related to parallel offline dangers.

Sexual Offending Pathways and Chat Conversations in an Online Environment.

People from all over the world pay for live streaming video images of minors, also called webcam child sex tourism (WCST). Although there is an increase in research about online sexual offending, relatively few studies have investigated the approaches used by people who have committed WCST offenses (PWCST). In addition, these studies describe these approaches as active-orientated without mentioning an avoidant pathway. The aim of the study was to investigate whether PWCST use similar pathways as the four offending pathways identified by Ward and Hudson. Using qualitative thematic analysis, 195 cases of online chat conversations between PWCST and operators posing as a minor were analyzed. The Ward and Hudson pathways model was partially replicable. Evidence was found for an approach and avoidant pathway. The data also suggest three other sub-pathways and a mixed pathway. Most PWCST in this study used an approach pathway to immediately approach minors for sex, which provides important insight into the diverse nature of sexual grooming.

Social networks, the Internet, and risks: portuguese parents' perception of online grooming / As redes, a Internet e os riscos: perceções de pais portugueses sobre o online grooming / Las redes, Internet y los riesgos: percepciones de los padres portugueses sobre el online grooming

The paper presents an exploratory and descriptive quantitative study, involving 560 Portuguese parents with school children, aged between 6 and 17 years. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire that was made available online and focused on the use of social networks, the Internet and the risk of online grooming. The results showed that about half of the participants did not know the term 'online grooming'. After defining the phenomenon, 97% of the participants considered it very seriously. To prevent risk, 52% of the participants reported talking with their children about online risks and taking precautions to reduce the children's vulnerability. Approximately 89% of the respondents said they knew where to report cybercrime. The study aimed to contribute to a greater awareness of the risks associated with the Internet, involving parents and caregivers in the prevention of situations of victimization of children and adolescents. (AU)

O artigo apresenta um estudo quantitativo exploratório e descritivo, envolvendo 560 pais portugueses que tinham filhos em idade escolar entre 6 e 17 anos. A recolha de dados foi feita por meio de um inquérito por questionário, disponibilizado online, focado no uso das redes, da internet e no risco do online grooming. Os resultados mostraram que cerca de metade dos participantes não conhecia o termo "online grooming". Depois de definir o fenómeno, cerca de 97% dos participantes consideram-no muito grave. Para prevenir, 52% dos participantes disseram conversar com seus filhos sobre os riscos online e tomar precauções para reduzir a vulnerabilidade das crianças. Cerca de 89% dos entrevistados disseram saber onde denunciar crimes cibernéticos. O estudo visa contribuir para uma maior conscientização dos riscos associados à internet, envolvendo pais e cuidadores na prevenção de situações de vitimação de crianças e adolescentes. (AU)

El artículo presenta un estudio cuantitativo exploratorio y descriptivo, en el que participaron 560 padres portugueses que tenían hijos en edad escolar entre 6 y 17 años. La recolección de datos se llevó a cabo a través de una encuesta, disponible en línea, enfocada en el uso de redes, Internet y el riesgo del online grooming. Los resultados mostraron que aproximadamente la mitad de los participantes no conocían el término "online grooming". Tras definir el fenómeno, alrededor del 97% de los participantes lo consideró muy grave. Para prevenirlo, el 52% de los encuestados afirmaron hablar con sus hijos sobre los riesgos digitales y tomar precauciones para reducir la vulnerabilidad de los niños. Alrededor del 89% de los encuestados dijeron que sabían dónde denunciar los delitos cibernéticos. El estudio tiene como objetivo contribuir a una mayor conciencia de los riesgos asociados a Internet, involucrando a los padres y cuidadores en la prevención de situaciones de victimización infantil y adolescente. (AU)

Creencias erróneas sobre el abuso sexual online de menores (“child grooming”) y evaluación de un programa de prevención / Mistaken beliefs about online child grooming and evaluation of a prevention program

umen El abuso sexual online de menores es el proceso a través del cual un adulto consigue victimizar sexualmente a un menor valiéndose de Internet. Este estudio tiene como objetivos analizar los mitos y las creencias erróneas que muestran los menores sobre el abuso sexual online, y desarrollar y evaluar la eficacia de un programa de prevención específico de estas creencias erróneas. Participaron 395 adolescentes (52,8% chicas), entre 12 y 16 años (M= 13,33; DT= 1,01) que completaron medidas de autoinforme. Se encontró que el 19% y el 13%, respectivamente, habían sufrido alguna solicitud sexual o alguna interacción sexual online con un adulto. La mayoría de los adolescentes desconocía que el abuso sexual online es una forma de acoso sexual y que los chicos también pueden ser víctimas de éste. Tras la realización del programa de prevención, el grupo que recibió la intervención mostró un nivel de conocimientos superior al grupo control en ocho de los 11 ítems. Estos hallazgos abren la posibilidad de tomar de conciencia de la problemática y trabajar en su prevención (AU)

Online child grooming is the process by which an adult manages to sexually victimize a minor using the Internet as a tool. The objectives of the current study were to determine and analyze the erroneous beliefs held by minors about online grooming, and develop and evaluate the efficacy of a preventive program in mitigating these misconceptions. A sample comprising 395 adolescents aged 12- 16 years (52.8% girls, M= 13.33 years, SD= 1.01) completed self-report questionnaires. A relatively high proportion of the sample had been sexually solicited by an adult (19%) or had engaged in online sexual interaction with an adult (13%). Most adolescents were unaware that online grooming is a form of sexual harassment and that male adolescents could also be victims of online sexual harassment. The intervention group showed a higher level of knowledge than the control group for eight of the 11 items. These findings suggest that greater awareness of online child grooming will contribute to its prevention (AU)

A psycho-linguistic profile of online grooming conversations: A comparative study of prison and police staff considerations.

BACKGROUND: Internet-initiated sexual offences against minors (i.e., online grooming (OG)) is a communicative process of entrapment used by adults to entice minors into sexual activities. Yet, research exploring how the language used by such individuals might reflect their psychological world is scarce. Interestingly, researchers have largely assumed that adults who engage in OG behaviours create a deceptive relationship to reach sexual intent. However, no study to date has investigated the deceptive component of these interactions. OBJECTIVE: To explore the psycholinguistic and deceptive properties of chats where OG is present, from the perspective of front-line specialists. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Prison staff (n = 7) and police officers (n = 9) and sixty-five chat logs from adults convicted of an online sexual offence against a minor. METHODS: A mixed-method approach was employed, whereby qualitative (focus groups) data collection informed subsequent quantitative (the Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC)) data analyse of adult-child online sexual chats, using the model of OG discourse as the theoretical rationale. RESULTS: Specialist considered that the online abuse/exploitation of minors can occur without deception. Adults who engage in OG behaviour use language that denotes affiliation with a positive emotional tone (p = .003, ηp2 = .59). The communicative focus is the development of an interpersonal relationship, above engagement in sexual talk (p < .001, ηp2 = .96). CONCLUSIONS: Findings challenge the common perception that the relationship is centred on deception and identify the intention of some adults as the development of a perceived genuine interpersonal relationship.

Little red riding hood in the social forest. Online grooming as a public health issue: a narrative review.

INTRODUCTION: Online grooming is a manipulative process through which an adult attempts to arrange a sexual interaction with a minor using internet. Children are constantly exposed to the online world, posing online grooming as a public health issue. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this narrative review is to describe the state of online grooming preventive strategies in recent literature through an overview of online grooming phenomenon. METHODS: Our literature review included research articles and reviews published between January 2014 and March 2019, as well as reference lists of included studies. RESULTS: The analysis provides a picture of online grooming phenomenon, identify recurrent features of perpetrators and victims. Several preventive strategies have been implemented, but they lack any kind of efficacy evaluation and miss a theory driven approach. Fragmentation of preventive initiatives is a critical issue, in contrast with the need of an institutional public health strategy. CONCLUSIONS: While the attention around online grooming is growing, there is still the need of further sensitizing the involved stakeholders and developing evidence based preventive strategies under an institutional guidance.

A systematic review of fantasy driven vs. contact driven internet-initiated sexual offences: Discrete or overlapping typologies?

Within the literature individuals who use the internet to facilitate the sexual abuse of a minor are generally classified as being fantasy or contact driven. Classification is based upon the intended location for sexual climax: fantasy driven individuals aim to reach sexual climax online, whereas contact driven individuals target minors to achieve physical sex offline. This review systematically investigates whether there is an empirical basis for the distinction between these two proposed discrete types. Comparison of tactics and behaviour are considered to examine whether the contact vs. fantasy distinction is useful. A two-stage literature selection process, considered against pre-determined inclusion criteria, identified a total of twenty-two studies. As methodological heterogeneity limited the ability to conduct pooled analysis, a narrative synthesis of data employing an interpretive approach was conducted. This showed that the contact and fantasy distinction is ambiguous, given that both groups engage in online behaviours that provide them with online sexual gratification that can also lead to offline contact. Furthermore, no clear pattern of behaviour was found to define contact and fantasy individuals idiosyncratically. The European Online Grooming Project typology is thus proposed as a better representation of this behaviour; intimacy seeking, adaptable and hypersexualized groups. The distinction between these groups focuses primarily on the intensity of the relationship, acknowledging that sexual abuse can occur with or without offline contact. This review also highlights the need for larger, methodologically robust studies that examine the behaviour of online child sexual offenders.

Persuasion strategies and sexual solicitations and interactions in online sexual grooming of adolescents: Modeling direct and indirect pathways.

Online sexual grooming and exploitation of adolescents is receiving increasing social attention. Drawing on a social influence framework, the aim of this study was to test a model of the direct and mediated relationships between an adult's use of persuasion strategies and online sexual grooming of early adolescents. The initial sample of the study consisted of 2731 early Spanish adolescents between 12 and 15 years old (50.6% female). Of these, 196 adolescents (7.17% of the total; 53% girls) were involved in online grooming (mean age = 14.93, SD = 0.90). Persuasion strategies by the adult through internet increased the probability of using deceit, bribery, and the minor's nonsexual involvement. In addition, deceit and bribery were associated with higher rates of sexual solicitation, which in turn increased abusive sexual interactions. Understanding strategies used by adults to groom minors contributes to the prevention of and intervention in this crucial societal problem.

Behavioural Differences Between Online Sexual Groomers Approaching Boys and Girls.

This study focused on the behavior of convicted offenders who had approached profiles of boys and girls online for offline sexual encounters. A detailed coding scheme was designed to code and analyze offenders' grooming behaviors in transcripts of conversational interactions between convicted offenders and 52 volunteer workers purporting to be girls and 49 volunteer workers who masqueraded as boys. Behavioral differences and commonalities associated with the gender of the groomed child decoys were examined. Results showed that offenders approaching boys were significantly older and pretended to be younger than offenders approaching girls. When compared to offenders grooming boy decoys, offenders grooming girl decoys typically built more rapport, were less sexually explicit, and approached sexual topics carefully and indirectly. Offenders also used more strategies to conceal contact with girls than with boys.