Adolescents and children are prone to online deception and can acquiesce to requests for sensual photographs by people who profess to love them, the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families said yesterday, citing a poll.
The foundation issued the warning on Child Protection Day, which it has marked on April 28 since 2014 to raise awareness of child abuse.
The poll, titled “Identification of Risks Regarding Online Sexual Exploitation,” was conducted by the foundation and presented respondents with multiple scenarios. The higher the respondents’ score, the more cognizant they are that the scenario was an attempt to sexually exploit them.
Photo courtesy of the foundation
A scenario that gained a low average score was one in which individuals were asked to provide a sensual photograph of themselves to prove that they are in love, or are told that it would just be for their private enjoyment, the foundation said at a news conference.
The poll shows that adolescents demonstrate sufficient awareness that they are being sexually exploited when encountering violence or being pressured, pediatrician Chen Mu-jung (陳木榮) said, adding that in these circumstances, young people know how to refuse.
However, adolescents lack the ability to recognize exploitation when individuals operate under the guise of being romantically involved with them, he said.
Adolescents polled have demonstrated that they are less able to recognize malicious intent under such circumstances, especially when they think the person asking for such photos is someone they can trust and discuss private matters with, he said.
This is how many adolescents end up with photos of themselves being shared on the Internet, he said, adding that people should never take private or suggestive images of themselves or send such pictures to others.
Storing such photos online or on one’s cellphone is not safe, he said.
Adolescents should refrain from posting photos of themselves on the Internet, and they should not tell others on social media their actual age, he said, adding that boys and girls are equally at risk.
Children should not shy away from telling their parents if they encounter issues of sexual exploitation online, Chen said, adding that only by telling their parents can the problem be resolved.
As children are exposed to the Internet at a very young age, parents should speak with them as early as possible to prevent children being sexually exploited, said television host Tsai Shang-hua (蔡尚樺), who is an ambassador for the foundation’s 428 Child Protection Day program.
The foundation has held more than 30 events across the country to promote awareness of sexual exploitation of adolescents, foundation chief executive officer Chou Ta-yao (周大堯) said, adding that it is providing education courses and consultation services for affected adolescents.
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