A scoping review of child grooming strategies: pre- and post-internet

Epidemiology of online sexual solicitation and interaction of minors with adults: A longitudinal study

“…This study was funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation [RTI2018-094212-B-I00: (CIBER-AACC)] and by the Universidad Internacional de la Rioja in its Own Research Plan [Grupo Ciberpsicología triennium 2017and biennium 2020-2022.…”

“…These, along with sexual interactions between adults and minors (e.g., sex via webcam, sexual conversations, sending sexual photos or videos, or meeting offline for sexual contact), are booming phenomena that raise enormous social concern Gámez-Guadix & Mateos-Pérez, 2019). Although this study focuses on online sexual solicitation and interactions between minors and adults, according to the scientific literature, these types of sexualized behaviors are sometimes part of a more global process of child grooming-the seduction and/or manipulation of minors carried out by an adult (Broome, Izura, & Davies, 2020;Gámez-Guadix, Almendros, Calvete, & De Santisteban, 2018;Ringenberg, Seigfried-Spellar, Rayz, & Rogers, 2022). When this occurs, the adult manipulates the child into developing a feeling of attachment to the abuser, who displays an expectation of trust and intimacy, concealing primarily sexual intentions (Kloess, Hamilton-Giachritsis, & Beech, 2019).…”

A Preventive Intervention to Reduce Risk of Online Grooming Among Adolescents

“…The Internet is a setting in which children and adolescents can be the victims of sexual abuse by adults Ringenberg et al, 2022). However, despite the dramatic consequences of adult sexual victimization on the Internet (Whittle, Hamilton-Giachritsis, Beech, & Collings, 2013;Ybarra et al, 2007), there is an important gap in the development of universal preventive interventions addressing this problem.…”

“…Strategies to trap the child in the abusive relationship may include deception by the adult (e.g., about the abuser's hobbies or age), showing interest in the victim's life (e.g., minors' problems with family or friends), giving material goods to the minor (money, photo sessions, etc. ), progressive sexualization of the minor (e.g., through sexual jokes or comments), or explicit aggression (e.g., through blackmail or threats) Ringenberg et al, 2022). Through the processes involved in online grooming, such as progressive sexualization, the abusive adult could subtly manipulate the minor to normalize the sending and sharing of sexual material (Broome et al, 2018).…”

Stability of the online grooming victimization of minors: Prevalence and association with shame, guilt, and mental health outcomes over one year

“…Online child grooming is a particular form of sexual exploitation of minors. Online grooming refers to the process by which an adult builds a trusting relationship with a minor through the internet, manipulates the minor to obtain sexual content (e.g., images or videos) or meets in person with the minor to sexually abuse them (De Santisteban et al, 2018; Ringenberg et al, 2022; Wachs et al, 2020). This form of abuse occurs through an adult's position of authority, trust, or superiority over the minor, who cannot legally provide sexual consent (Ainsaar & Lööf, 2011).…”