Child sexual abuse or exploitation occurs when abusers, usually older adults, use children for personal sexual purposes. This involves either sexual assault or harassment, and can be found in the form of contact as well as non contact abuse. To explore the meaning of non contact abuse, it can include voyeurism, pornography, as well as any other means of exploitation happening online, for example, through photos and text messages. Even using strong sexual language directed to a child is a form of sexual abuse if carried on repetitively, and in fact, this is often how child sexual abuse begins.

 

As the age of technology continues to become used in more and more aspects of our lifestyles, there has been an increase in the number of children being sexually abused online. According to the Internet Watch Foundation in 2017, a web page shows images of children being sexually abused every 7 minutes. In addition, these perpetrators can use their power over a minor to persuade or force them into exchanging sexual activity for things like money, drugs, gifts, status and even affection.

 

Many children who find themselves a victim of child sexual abuse or exploitation also find themselves facing a few of these factors: low self esteem, few friends in their age group, learning disabilities, or suffering from a recent loss. Most of the time, the abuser will be people the child interacts with on a regular basis. It is reported that 90 percent of those who are abused knew their abuser, that 60 percent are abused by a trusted family friend and 30 percent by a family member. Further risk factors include a home environment where step parents are involved in the family dynamic, or single parents, parents struggling with low income, drugs, alcohol, mental health issues, and so on. Children are most vulnerable between the ages of 7 to 13, however this issue affects any minor. Sex tourism is also an issue, with the World Tourism Organization reporting that each year 3 million people take trips in order to have sexual relations with minors.