Online child abuse

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Online child abuse is a unique form of child abuse also known as “Cyber Molestation” due to its virtual, distanced, and anonymous nature. Such abuse may not happen face-to-face, nor does it necessarily require physical contact. However, online abuse can result in negative face-to-face consequences in the form of statutory rape, forcible sexual assault, harassment, etc.^[1] In the United States, online child abuse is recognized as a form of child abuse by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.^[2]

Online abuse of children can occur through a variety of forms. Including, but not limited, to cyber-bullying, grooming, and sexual abuse. Such abuse requires the use of the World Wide Web or cellphones, increasing its significance in an increasingly technological world.^[3] The perpetrator of such online abuse may be a stranger or someone who is previously known by the victim.^[3] A report by the Data & Society Research Institute and the Center for Innovative Public Health Research showed that 72% of U.S. Internet users have witnessed some form of online harassment or abuse, while 47% have personally experienced it. This study found no distinction between genders with respect to harassment, but deduced that women were at risk for a wider variety of online abuse.^{[4][relevant?]}

Governments across the world have acknowledged the importance of recognizing and combating online abuse of children.^{[not verified in body]} In the United States this effort is led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This task force consists of 61 individual task forces engaging with 4,500 federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies all with the goal of combating online abuse of children.^[5]