PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL ABUSE THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

The digital environment has the potential to provide children with incredible possibilities. In this regard, the growth of e-mail, social networks, online messaging, online games and video streaming applications reflects the increase in reported and confirmed cases of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents on the Internet. As access to and use of the Internet continues to grow, one must remain vigilant about opportunities for online sexual exploitation of children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to a more virtual world has increased the use of Internet by children, limited online safety supervision, and reduced children's access to trusted adults who are often key to identifying and reporting abuse.

Awareness must be raised and preventive solutions developed for these threats. Competent state authorities are important practitioners of preventive activities, education and advocacy throughout the whole life and can play a key role in protecting children and teenagers from this relatively new threat. The first step in stopping online sexual abuse of children is understanding what it is, whom it affects, and how to be safer online.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has confirmed that meaningful access to digital technologies can help children realize the full spectrum of their rights. Children use the Internet to learn, connect with others, and express themselves in ways that previous generations could only imagine. Digital technology is an integral part of the everyday life of many children. On the other hand, online sexual exploitation of children refers to the use of technology for sexual exploitation or causing harm to a person under the age of 18. This phenomenon has become more common in recent years due to increased access to the Internet in households, increased use of smartphones among children and teenagers, as well as the rapid expansion of new technological platforms such as live streaming and gaming.

Despite its risk and frequency, this form of sexual abuse of children is mostly underrepresented in the literature. This paper aims to define online sexual exploitation of children, to investigate its consequences, and to identify related risk factors and emphasize the key role of competent authorities in its prevention and suppression. By shedding light on this issue, the aim is to respond to the crucial need to protect the well-being of children and adolescents in a more digital time.