violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

7between 11 and 15 had been harassed, bullied or victimised by threatening messages,or because someone had published misleading information about them online. Suchactions can be part of complex operations involving the manipulation of photographstaken on mobile phones, and invitations to anonymous users to attack named victimson website forums. 172According to experts, the apparent increasing interest in images of abuse may be associatedwith the way the online environments allow for expression that is not generallytolerated in other environments. 173 For example, in the general climate of lowered inhibitionsprovided by the online environment, users can alter their mood, recreate themselvessometimes with multiple self-representations, validate and justify the exchangeof abusive images with others, challenge concepts of regulation, and disrupt conventionalhierarchies. ECPAT research suggests that children and young people who donot have adequate parental supervision, who suffer from low self-esteem, or who haveno strong mentor in their lives are particularly at risk of negative outcomes related touse of ICTs. 174Media violence may give children unrealistic ideas about violence in real life. Forexample, there is some evidence that watching action films can lead children to believethat the human body is much tougher than it actually is, and to underestimate theserious physical damage that punches and kicks can inflict. It is also suspected thatmedia-instilled ideas about violence and a feeling of being under threat can predisposesome individuals to resort to destructive aggressive behaviour in situations of stressor perceived danger. 175 In addition, it is hypothesised that access to television and theInternet may promote consumer envy, and underline the gap between the lifestyles ofthe haves and have-nots, and thus lead to petty or violent crime. 176313Violence against children in the communityA recent meta-review of scientific studies examined the effects of media violence onchildren up to 18 years of age. It concluded that there is “consistent evidence that violentimagery on television, film and video, and computer games has substantial shorttermeffects on arousal, thoughts, and emotions, increasing the likelihood of aggressiveor fearful behaviour in younger children, especially boys.” The effects are not clear inthe case of older children (including teenagers), or regarding the long-term impacts>>>