Sexualistation of Young People

chat rooms and seduce girls into
performing sex acts for money in front
of the camera. 406 This specific form of
exploitation is tackled in the UK by the
Child Exploitation and Online Protection
(CEOP) Centre.
Exposure to sexualised images of children
and child pornography could potentially
increase a child’s vulnerability to sexual
exploitation and abuse. Sexual images of
children may have the effect of normalising
child sexual abuse. During the Australian
Conference of Child Abuse and Neglect
in 2003 it was reported that exposure
to X-rated pornography was a significant
factor in young children abusing other
children. 407 In her research on how
14–16-year-olds present themselves
online, Jessica Ringrose made the point
that young girls, inspired by the hypersexualised
portrayals of women around
them, are styling themselves in overtly
sexually provocative ways for the
consumption of other young people.
What we are seeing on social networking
sites and in ‘sexting’ is, effectively, children
themselves producing child pornography. 408
406 Eichenwald (2005)
407 Stanley, et al. (2003)
408 Ringrose (2008)
As academics in the field have pointed
out, modern technology “has transformed
the political economy of all pornography,
making it possible for almost anyone to
be producer, distributor and consumer
simultaneously.” 409
Tink Palmer, Internet Watch Foundation,
noted in an evidence session for this
review that she had encountered several
cases where young people were groomed
to consume child porn by sex offenders
who had made initial contact in on-line
chat rooms. Her experience is reflected
in research findings that suggest that
growing numbers of adolescents are
being convicted of possession of child
pornography. 410 In accord with these
findings are the results of a New Zealand
study that reported that among offenders,
the largest group trading in internet
child pornography were aged between
15–19. 411
409 Kelly and Regan (2000)
410 Moultrie (2006)
411 Carr (2004)
Sexualisation of Young People Review
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