Online commercial sexual exploitation of children in a national victim survey.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the characteristics and consequences of online commercial sexual exploitation of children using a nationally representative sample.

METHOD: The online survey sample comprised 2,639 respondents aged 18-28 from the KnowledgePanel maintained by the survey research firm Ipsos.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight respondents or a weighted 1.7% of the sample described childhood experiences in which they used technology to exchange sexual talks, sexual images, or other sexual activities for money, drugs, or other valuable items. The episodes were very diverse. Sixty-three percent were girls, 30% boys, 7% gender fluid, and 42% sexual minorities. Half were ages 16 or 17, and half were younger at the time of the activity. Many (44%) were involved in offline sexual activity. The purchasers were not exclusively anonymous internet contacts; 19% were current or former intimate partners and another 10% friends or acquaintances. Most of the exchanges (92%) were self-negotiated, and only 8% involved a facilitator. Nonetheless, most reported negative reactions involving embarrassment, anxiety, and feeling afraid. Sexual minority youth reported more exchanging sexual talk, having a facilitator involved, feeling afraid and falling behind in school or work than heterosexual youth.

CONCLUSIONS

This national survey reveals a high frequency of childhood commercial sex that diverges from descriptions of dynamics based on police and social agency data. Such dynamics suggest the need for alternative approaches to prevention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).