Title: Disturbing Rise in Online Sexual Abuse of Girls Under Six by Predators
A troubling new study by the Internet Watch Foundation has revealed a disturbing trend of young girls, some as young as three to six years old, being coerced into performing acts of sexual abuse online by predators. The research found thousands of images and footage of children being groomed and manipulated into sex acts, with perpetrators secretly recording them in various settings before distributing the footage on child sex abuse sites.
The study also highlighted a concerning increase in extreme online child sex abuse, with a 22% surge in webpages containing Category A child sexual abuse material discovered in 2023. This marks the worst year on record, with a 38% rise in Category A imagery from the previous year.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat emphasized the need for parents to speak to their children about their use of social media, as predators are targeting younger and younger victims. He called on technology companies to implement stronger safeguards to prevent abuse and work with authorities to bring predators to justice.
Ian Critchley, lead for Child Protection at the NSPCC, expressed shock at offenders gaining access to even younger children, emphasizing the responsibility of tech companies to prioritize child safety over profit. The report also found that girls constitute 94% of self-generated child sexual abuse imagery.
The findings underscore the urgent need for a whole society approach to protect children from online predators. If you are a child in need of help or an adult concerned about a child, you can contact the NSPCC for support.