Prevalence and characteristics of online child sexual victimization: Findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence and characteristics of online child sexual victimization in Australia, using data from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. The research examines two key forms of victimization: nonconsensual sharing of sexual images of a child and online sexual solicitation by an adult. The study analyses data from a nationally representative sample of 3,500 Australians aged 16–24 years. Findings reveal that 7.6% of participants reported experiencing nonconsensual image sharing before age 18, while 17.7% experienced online sexual solicitation by an adult. Girls were significantly more likely than boys to be victimized, with 10.9% reporting nonconsensual image sharing and 26.3% experiencing online solicitation. Gender-diverse individuals reported even higher rates of online solicitation. The study highlights the early age at onset, with many experiences beginning in early adolescence, and notes that perpetrators vary by type of victimization, with online solicitation primarily committed by unknown adults and image-sharing offenses often perpetrated by known adolescents. These findings underscore the need for targeted prevention measures, including online safety education, policy interventions, and stronger protective measures for young people in digital spaces.