Online Risk to Children

Jon Brown is Head of Strategy and Development for The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children). He is a qualified Social Worker with a Masters in Social Policy from the London School of Economics. Before joining the NSPCC, he served as Operational Director of Children's Services for Action for Children. From 2003-2007 he was Chair of the National Organization for the Treatment of Abusers, and he remains on their National Executive Committee. He is also a Trustee of the Loudoun Trust, a Board member of eNACSO (European NGO Alliance for Child Safety Online), and a peer reviewer for the Economic and Social Research Council.

• Foreword xiAnne LongfieldAbout the Contributors xiiiAcknowledgements xviiIntroduction 1Jon Brown1 A Brief History of Child Safety Online: Child Abuse Images on the Internet 5John CarrUnintended, Unforeseen and Unwanted Consequences 5Sexual Images of Children 6The World Wide Web Explosion 7Affordability, Accessibility and Anonymity – the Three As – Provide the Spur 8The Number of Arrests and Police Operations Start to Climb 9The Emergence of Hotlines 10The Birth of the Internet Watch Foundation 12Not a Very Promising Start 15The Terrain Shifts and URL Blocking Emerges 16Technology Comes to the Rescue of a Problem Technology Helped to Create 18The Role of Search Engines 19The Unanswered Questions about Technical Solutions 192 Children’s and Young People’s Lives Online 23Sonia LivingstoneTrends in Children’s Internet Use 24Parental Responses and Responsibilities 25Digital Skills as Mediators—Why is it Hard to Get This Right? 27The Emerging Balance of Opportunities and Risks 28Evidence‐Based Implications for Policy and Practice 30Conclusion 323 Cyberbullying and Peer‐Oriented Online Abuse 37Andy PhippenPerspectives on Online Child Protection from Parents 39Policy Responses and ‘Prevention’ Mechanisms 41Growing up in the Online World 434 Offender Behaviour 55Helen C. Whittle and Catherine Hamilton-GiachritsisThe Impact of the Online Environment 56Offending Online 57Comparison with Offline Offenders 65Gaps in Our Knowledge 67Conclusion 675 Treatment of Online Offenders: Current Best Practice and Next Steps 73Sandy JungOnline Sex Offenders: Characteristics and Comparisons with Contact Offenders 74Typology of Online Offenders 77Theories of Online Offending 79Intervention Best Practices with Online Sex Offenders 81Conclusion 906 The Impact of Online Sexual Abuse on Children and Young People 97Elly HansonOverview of Online Sexual Abuse 98The Impact of Child Sexual Abuse 102Characteristics of CSA That Affect Impact 104Social Contextual Factors That Affect Impact 104Social and Psychological Processes Following Abuse 106Complexities to Online Sexual Abuse 106Salient Factors Underpinning Impact 111Promoting Resilience, Reducing Impact, Fostering Recovery 116Research Directions 117Conclusion 1177 Promising Therapeutic Approaches for Children, Young People and their Families Following Online Sexual Abuse 123Elly HansonEffective and Promising Treatment Approaches for Problems in Childhood Arising from Sexual Abuse 124Key Targets for Change in Therapy 127Promising Methods of Fulfilling Key (Overlapping) Therapeutic Aims 130Engagement and Building a Strong Therapeutic Relationship 131Developing Positive Body Esteem and Sexuality 133Reducing the Impact of Abuse Images Circulating and the Threat of This 133Overcoming Shame and Self‐Blame; Building Pride and Mastery 135Facilitating Support from Families 136Conclusion 1378 Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Online 143Stephen Smallbone and Richard WortleyOrganising Prevention Strategies 144Prevention Strategies 146Primary Prevention 146Secondary Prevention 150Tertiary Prevention 154Conclusion 1589 Promoting Child Protection Principles in Complex Abuse Investigation Involving Online Offending 163Zoe HiltonDefinitions 164Key Principles for Operational Activity 165Incorporating Child Protection Principles into Operational Planning 166Principles of Working 166Capacity and Capability Building 170Operational Examples 171Annex 1 17310 Staying Safe Online 177Dido HardingTechnology Is Changing the Rules – or Is It? 177Embracing Opportunities 178Industry’s Responsibility 180Industry Action 181The Future Challenge 18611 UK Policy Responses and Their International Relevance 189Claire LilleyDefinitions and Terminology 190Legislation 190Removal of Child Abuse Content 193Multi‐Agency Approaches 195The Role of NGOs 197Policing Response 198Offenders 202Victims 205Recent Developments 206Conclusion 21012 The Role of Schools in Children’s Online Safety 217Martin WallerOnline Technologies and Education 218The Blurring of Boundaries 219E‐Safety and Moral Panics 222Integrating Online Technologies 223Implications 227Conclusion 228Epilogue 231Jon BrownIndex 235