What Is Self-exploitation? Rethinking the Relationship between Sexualization and ‘Sexting’ in Law and Order Times

From risky behaviour to sexy adventures: reconceptualising young people’s online sexual activities

“…The consequences of such advice are problematic. First, it limits young people's sexual freedom (see also Aggleton and Campbell 2000;boyd 2008;Burns 2015;Karaian 2012Karaian , 2015Renold, Ringrose, and Egan 2015;Ringrose et al 2013;Robinson 2013;Salter, Crofts, and Lee 2013). Second, if young people ignore the advice and fall victim to unpleasant or disturbing experiences, they are easily blamed for it.…”

“…Building on centuries of scholarship about sexual pleasure and danger (e.g. Fine 1988;Vance 1984), feminist researchers have argued that such risk discourses mainly serve to moralise about, pathologise and police particular behaviours and children (Aggleton and Campbell 2000;boyd 2008;Burns 2015;Karaian 2012Karaian , 2015Karaian and Van Meyl 2015;Renold, Ringrose, and Egan 2015;Ringrose et al 2013;Robinson 2013;Salter, Crofts, and Lee 2013). For example, certain sexting images potentially fall foul of child pornography laws, which has resulted in disproportionate legal action against teenagers in several countries (Salter, Crofts, and Lee 2013, 307-308).…”

Claims-making, child saving, and the news media

“…(GM, June 18, 2010) Discourses of responsibilization and blame circulated among the claims of C3P around teen sexting (Karaian, 2014). Recently, C3P has launched an education program that frames the issue of teen sexting as 'self-exploitation,' deftly asserting that victims are perpetrators of their own exploitation and must consequently bear some measure of moral responsibility for their careless actions (Karaian, 2015). Claims of this type tended to reify a distinction between innocent child victims and morally blameworthy actors who did not take all necessary precautions to protect themselves online.…”

“…Despite the invisibility of its daily operations, 3 C3P is highly skilled at crafting its public image and maintaining a media profile. Employing a staff of graphic artists, web designers and communications specialists, C3P cultivates its own mediated image just as it carefully constructs the social problem of child sexual exploitation through advertising campaigns; individual relationships with select journalists; and education programs for children, youth and parents (see for example Karaian, 2014Karaian, , 2015. I argue that C3P's veil of secrecy, coupled with its expertly crafted media strategy, have effectively positioned the organization as the symbolic 'owner' of the social problem of online child sexual exploitation and abuse.…”

Child Sexual Abuse: Ethics and Evidence

“…Information on victim identity, the context of imagery production and the extent of circulation are all critically important in crafting effective responses to victims and perpetrators, and in preventing the production and distribution of the material. However, a significant complicating factor in the ongoing fight against child abuse material has been the self‐production of images and videos by children themselves (Karaian, ). Prior to the advent of smart phones and other networked technologies, virtually all child abuse material was created by adult perpetrators.…”