New statistics show kids are being sexually assaulted by people they meet on social media

A new study shows that social media may be more dangerous for kids than many parents realize, giving them opportunities to meet and communicate with strangers who will eventually go on to sexually assault them. But the researchers, who will present their findings this weekend at the 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, also discovered that social media is a vehicle for kids to be sought out by acquaintances who will eventually assault them.

The study found that about 7% of children between the ages of 10 and 18 who were treated for sexual assault at a California hospital between 2018 and 2023 said that they communicated with the perpetrator on social media. 

When researchers looked only at cases where perpetrators were not related to their victims, that number was 12%.

But lead study author Dr. Shalon Nienow said follow-up research she’s conducting with more recent data suggests that the trend is changing, and the percentage of sexual assaults of children by acquaintances who use social media to contact them is now significantly higher.

“Social media is a ubiquitous form of communication for children and adolescents that can breed a false sense of security and ‘friendship’ with those that they meet online,” Nienow said. “It is our experience that in cases of acquaintance sexual assault, social media plays a significant role in facilitating communication and connection between victims and their perpetrators.”

The average age of the victims in the study was 13, and 89% of them were female. Around 80% of the perpetrators were adult men.

Nienow, who serves as the medical director of the Chadwick Center for Children and Families at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, said parents can help protect their kids by establishing open lines of communication with them from an early age.

“Early and open communication regarding body autonomy, safety and consent issues is imperative to creating a sense of mutual trust and understanding between parents and children and to empower children to discuss any concerns that may arise,” she said. 

And while it may feel like your kids deserve privacy on their devices, it’s more important to make sure they’re safe online by monitoring who they talk to on social media — and how.

“Use of phones and social media is a privilege that comes with responsibility,” she said.

How parents can help keep their kids safe online

It’s also important to keep track of whom your children are talking to on social networks, even if your kids groan at the thought of it. “Many parents presume that this is a violation of their child’s privacy,” Nienow said. “However, use of phones and social media is a privilege that comes with responsibility.”

This month, Instagram launched new safety features that allow parents to see what accounts their children recently messaged.

• Create a safety plan. Discuss internet safety with children and develop an online safety plan before they start using the internet. 
• Supervise children. Monitor young children’s online activity, including checking their profiles and posts. 
• Review content. Review games, apps, and social media sites before children use them. 
• Use parental controls. Adjust privacy settings and use parental controls for online activity. 
• Teach boundaries. Teach children to avoid sharing personal information online and to say no to inappropriate requests. 
• Look for signs of abuse. Be aware of changes in children’s online activity, such as withdrawn behavior, angry outbursts, or anxiety. 
• Report abuse. If you suspect online child sexual exploitation, call 911 or go to report.cybertip.org. 
• Develop definitions of the concepts of respect and consent. Explore how these concepts relate to digital technology and online relationships. Make moral judgments relating to issues of consent in online relationships. Learn how to take control when images of them are shared without their permission.