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Resource Book_Online Sexual Abuse and Safety for Adolescents %2810-18 Years of Age%29 |
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Resource Book
Online Sexual Abuse and Safety
for Adolescents (10-18 years of age)
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Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) in India
Internet Use in India: Facts & Figures
India is emerging as one of
the largest internet users in
31%
the world.
Internet users are
between 12-19 years of
age.
1 in 3
Adolescents exposed to
internet is a victim of
cyberbullying & other forms
of online abuse among
school students in Delhi.
Source: Study by Child
Relief & You in 2020 (3)
24 lakh
Instances of online child
sexual abuse reported in
India during 2017-20
80
%
Victims were girls
below 14 years, shows
Interpol data. (2)
65%
Internet users are
(1)
between 12-29 years
19.87 lakh or
11.7%
Online Child Sexual Abuse
77%
Rise in ‘self-generated’
child sexual material was
witnessed between 2019
& 2020.(5)
95%
Rise in online searches
for child sexual abuse
content was witnessed
during COVID-19 (6)
15%
Adolescents faced at
Material (CSAM) reports were
uploaded from India, making
it top the global list (4)
least 1 incident of
online sexual abuse or
exploitation.
Source: A study by
Population Foundation
of India in 4 Indian
states(7)
Many children and young persons in India experience OCSEA or are victims of online sexual abuse.
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is “the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she
does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to; or for which the child is
not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent…resulting in actual or potential
harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship
of responsibility, trust or power” (WHO, 1999).
CSA may include activities that involve looking at images of children, producing sexual
images, watching sexual activities, enticing children to meet the abuser in the real world,
encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, and grooming a child in
preparation for abuse.
CSA becomes sexual exploitation when the offender benefits monetarily through a
sexual activity involving a child.
Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) means using technology or the
internet to facilitate the sexual abuse of a child, including the production and sharing of
child sexual abuse material online.
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Types of OCSEA and Identifying It!
Online child sexual abuse and exploitation can affect any child or young person regardless of gender, age, race,
or economic background. It exists in several varying forms.
Cyberbullying/Online Harassment:
Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can occur
on social media, messaging and gaming platforms, and mobile phones. It
is repeated behaviour aimed at scaring, angering, or shaming children
who are targeted. Examples include:
Spreading lies or rumours about a child or young person online.
Posting embarrassing photos or videos of a child or young person on
social media
Sending hurtful, abusive, or threatening messages, images, or videos
via messaging platforms
Ganging up on or deliberately excluding someone in an online game
Impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on
their behalf or through fake accounts.
Online Coercion/ Blackmail:
Blackmail using digital technologies and platforms such as social media
or video conferencing platforms (such as Facebook, Instagram,
WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, and zoom) is online or cyber blackmail.
One of the most common forms of this blackmail is ‘sextortion’, where
children are threatened or blackmailed by an adult who engages with
them in casual conversation and then pressures or threatens them to
share sexual photos or videos of themselves. It could also involve
blackmailing a child by threatening to publicly share a nude or sexual
image of them in exchange for sexual favour or money.
Sexting (Sexual Texting):
Sexting is a process of sending sexually explicit messages, photos, or
videos via cell phone, computer, or any digital device. It can also happen
through direct messaging on social media sites. It often involves sending
nude or semi-nude photos and explicit videos to a known or unknown
person. People of any age group can sext.
Sexting can be consensual if both persons have agreed to/ and have
consented to sext. However, it is a form of abuse if one person is sexting
the other without permission or consent; and continues to do so, even if
the other person is unwilling.
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Grooming:
Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust, and emotional connection with
a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit, and abuse them. Children and
young people who are groomed can be sexually abused, exploited, or trafficked.
Grooming has various stages and types1 :
Stage 1: Targeting the child
Stage 2: Gaining the child’s
and caregiver's trust
Perpetrators may target and exploit a child’s
perceived vulnerabilities, including emotional
neediness, isolation, neglect, a chaotic home
life, lack of parental oversight, etc.
Eg: The perpetrator will pay special attention to
or give preference to a child.
Stage 3: Filling a need
Perpetrators work to gain the trust of parents/
caregivers to lower suspicion and gain access
to the child. "
Eg: I heard that you like movies. I'm planning to
see the new movie. I can take you if you want
to go."
Stage 4: Isolating the child
Perpetrators utilise tactics such as gift-giving,
flattery, gifting money, and meeting other basic
needs. Tactics may also include increased
attention and affection towards the child.
Eg: "I know you love chocolates, so I got you
these."
Stage 5: Sexualizing the relationship
The perpetrator uses isolation tactics to
reinforce their relationship with the child. The
perpetrator may reinforce the relationship with
the child by cultivating a sense that they love
and understand the child in a way that others,
even their parents, cannot.
Eg: "You can trust me because no one
understands you like I do."
Stage 6: Maintaining control
This occurs through talking, taking pictures, and
creating situations where both are naked (such
as swimming).
Eg: "Have you ever masturbated? I can show
you how. It feels really good."
Once sexual abuse occurs, perpetrators
commonly use secrecy, blame, and threats to
maintain the child’s participation and continued
silence.
Eg: "If you tell anyone, we both could go to jail.
We won't be able to be together."
Groomers are not exclusively strangers. They could be family friends or people who have met the child before
but primarily use the Internet to strengthen that relationship with the child. Individual groomers can be of any
sex, gender, or age.
1 Adapted from ‘Darkness to Light (End Child Sexual Abuse) website - https://www.d2l.org/child-grooming-signs-behavior-awareness/.
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Child Sexual Abuse Material:
Also called child pornography, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) is any material that depicts sexual abuse or
exploitation of a child. This could be in the form of photos, videos, or posters. Producing, distributing, or even
viewing CSAM is a form of online child sexual abuse and is illegal in India. Often such material is shared via email,
text message, instant messaging, social media platforms, or chat rooms.
As a child or young person, how to recognise if someone is persuading you?
Or exploiting you online? Or if you are a victim of online sexual exploitation
and abuse?
These are some of the behaviours that you could look out for with persons you engage with online (or even
offline):
Flattery – if someone gives you constant attention or praise to gain your trust and affection.
Bribing – if someone tries to bribe you through various means, such as gifts, money, or even points in an
online game.
If someone threatens or blackmails you to seek and hold your attention or keep conversing and engaging
with you.
If someone uses pity or guilt, you feel sorry for the person and continue to talk and engage with them.
If someone sends you sexualized content, including nude or semi-nude content, or pornographic videos,
or messages with links to such content or CASM.
If someone talks to you about sex online when you don’t want it.
If someone asks you for sexual information about yourself.
If someone posts embarrassing posts or images of you for others to see without your consent.
If you or someone you know are facing any of the above – speak to a responsible adult, your parents or teacher,
or report the incident to an authority. See more on this later in this book!
Experiences of Children and Adolescents from Around the Country
Case 1: An adolescent girl being blackmailed by a male abuser.
Location: Uttar Pradesh
The girl victim was studying in Class 12. A friend of the victim had befriended two boys
online and was chatting with both. The victim advised her friend not to chat with both boys.
She specifically advised her to stop talking to one of the boys who later became the
‘blackmailer’ and ‘abuser.’
The abuser tried to contact the victim. The victim had blocked the abuser from all platforms except the
‘home phone,’ which was with her father. The abuser created a fake profile on Instagram and threatened
that he had private pictures of the victim. He tried to blackmail her into becoming his girlfriend; he said he
would otherwise leak her private pictures. He also sent her a headless nude image of a woman stating that
these were her pictures and that he would leak them.
The victim warned him that she was not scared of his false threats. However, she was worried about him
calling on the home number which her father had. The victim told the abuser she would report him to the
police if he did not stop. The abuser was not bothered by the threats and, in turn, said that he would spoil
her image in society.
After two days of blackmail, the victim called the 1090 women’s helpline number in Uttar Pradesh
and reported the incident. She was asked to send screenshots and phone recordings. Two days
after she made the report, the abuser contacted her and apologised. He requested her to take
back the complaint, as he was worried that it would affect his sister’s wedding.
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Case 2: A young girl being blackmailed by a friend.
Location: New Delhi
The abuser (male) was a victim’s ‘friend’ on a social media platform. The abuser and the victim did not know
each other personally and were only friends through social media. The abuser sent a message to the victim
on the social media platform (as a direct message), saying he had access to some inappropriate photos of
her. Over a few days, he blackmailed the victim into sending him more such images. Else, he threatened to
show the photographs he had to her family. The victim, scared and fearful, gave in to the demand of the
abuser and sent him the photographs he wanted. Following this, the abuser put these private photographs
on the internet.
The victim took her brother and friend into confidence, and with their support, she filed a
police complaint. Following the police complaint, the abuser was identified as a resident of
Noida and arrested by the police.
“Once, an unknown person made video
calls to me. He shared inappropriate
videos with me. I messaged him and said –
‘Brother, who are you? Why are you
sending all this stuff with me? Please don't
send me such things and don't call me”
- Adolescent Girl, Rajasthan
“A friend from the hostel used to talk to
some older boys. They introduced him to
an older man, who asked my friend for a
sexual favour. Thankfully his father
found his phone, and he saw the
conversation”
– Adolescent Boy, Rajasthan
If you or someone you know is facing any incidents or
challenges related to online child sexual abuse, you are
not alone! Please speak to a responsible adult, your
parents or teacher, or report the incident to an authority.
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How Can OCSEA Impact Children and Young Persons?
Facing incidents of OCSEA can affect children and young persons at multiple levels.
Mental:
Feeling upset, embarrassed,
stupid, even afraid, or angry.
Emotional:
Feeling ashamed or lose interest
in the things they love.
Physical:
Feeling tired (loss of sleep) or
experiencing symptoms like
stomach aches and headaches.
Change in behaviour patterns:
Eating habits, academic/ school
performance, aggressive
behaviour towards parents,
friends, and family, or unusual
fear of certain places.
How can Children and Young Persons Protect themselves from OCSEA?
General Tips for Safe Internet Behaviour
Accept only people you know as online friends and followers.
Do not give out your passwords – even to a friend or someone known.
Check and update your privacy settings on all the devices, social media platforms, and apps you use – do not
allow strangers access to photos or personal information. Ensure that only your ‘friends’ can see your posts
and photos.
Think before you post!
Do not post personal information and details online.
Keep a neutral and positive tone while commenting on others’ posts, and do not write rude/ hurtful
comments.
Consent is very important. Always upload photos of friends, family, and strangers with their consent.
Use only trusted websites and platforms to download music or play games.
Play online games relevant and safe for your age group.
If you find anything suspicious or are worried about anything, talk to a trusted adult – a teacher or a parent.
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What to Do if You Are Facing an Incident of Experiencing OCSEA?
SPEAK
Speak to a trusted adult-
parent or teacher
ACT
Disengage from the
perpetrator/ activity- delete
and block the person
REPORT
•To the police/ other
authorities
•To the social media
companies/ Apps
SPEAK:
If you or someone you know is facing an incident or experience of abuse, please talk to a trusted adult. This
could be your parent, a teacher, an aunt, or an uncle.
Children and young persons are often scared to tell parents or adults; however, informing adults who could
help with your situation is important.
A Class 10th girl was getting lewd phone calls and messages from some anonymous number. She was afraid to
tell it to her parents because she knew her dad had a loose temper and he will try to harm that anonymous
caller by tracking him down by hook or by crook. With this fear in her mind she didn’t bother to complain. The
phone calls and messages didn’t stop. The feared that the boy could follow her too and did this happen.
Wherever she went, he started following her, be it her tuition classes, be it same outing spot. The situation
became worse when he started clicking her pictures. The girl was frightened and she dared to complain to the
cybercrime branch.
Lesson: Always tell your parents or a trusted adult if someone is troubling you. They would be able to help you.
Take the screenshots of such chats as proof, which can be shared with police authorities.
Source: CBSE Cyber Safety Book, 2019
ACT:
Disengage from the incident or person causing the abuse or discomfort, even if it is someone you know.
Block/ delete the person from all social media and digital platforms. If needed, block them from your phone
contacts.
Keep screenshots of the incident or any conversation or exchange with the person as proof
Inform the trusted adult of the actions you have taken.
REPORT:
Report the incident or person causing the abuse or discomfort, even if it is someone you know.
Report to the social media platform or App you are using. All platforms have the option to report an
objectionable post or contact. Use that option to report.
Report to the police or other authorities (see more on this ahead).
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A 7th standard girl was blackmailed by an adult who kept on asking the girl for her nude pictures. She explicitly
refused every time he asked and blocked the person. The blackmailer hacked one of her social media accounts
and took her photos and just to take the revenge he morphed her photos and posted them online. The girl was
embarrassed, agitated and even thought of committing a suicide.
Lesson: Be strong and face the situation wisely. Do not be afraid of such offenders. Report such crimes on the
platforms, cyber crime branches, authorities who work for child development, child helpline. Do not think of
yourself as a victim.
Source: CBSE Cyber Safety Book, 2019
Reporting Incidents of OCSEA
Laws Governing OCSEA in India
The following activities are illegal online and punishable under various Laws and Acts of the country.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES ONLINE
LAWS/ ACTS GOVERNING THEM
PENALITIES
Posting or sharing inappropriate images or
comments online or through WhatsApp
Protection of Children Against Sexual
Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012,
Indian Penal Code Information Technology
(IT) Act, 2000
A term of upto 3-5 years imprisonment
and fine.
Sharing or threatening to share an
inappropriate picture or explicit selfie with a
wider known/ unknown audience.
Violation of privacy – using any electronic
device &/or online medium to record, circulate,
transmit or publish or bring into the public
domain any photograph, video etc., that has
captured a child’s private parts
POCSO Act, 2012
Indian Penal Code
POCSO Act, 2012
IT Act, 2000
A term of up to 7 years imprisonment and
fine
A term of up to 7 years imprisonment, or fine,
or both
Impersonation – sending someone messages
by assuming a false identity
IT Act, 2000
A term of up to 3 years imprisonment and fine
Unauthorized access – hacking someone’s
computer, email, or social media account
Defamation – posting defamatory statements,
images, or videos about a
person on social media, chats, bulletin boards,
or any digital space
IT Act, 2000
Indian Penal Code
A term of up to 2-3 years imprisonment or fine
or both
A term of up to 2-3 years imprisonment or
fine or both
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Helplines and Online Portals to Report OCSEA
Offline/ Physical Reporting –
for Everyone
Government:
Helplines/ Complaint Numbers -
for Everyone
Police stations/ cyber cell – Call 100
National Commission for protection of Child
Rights (NCPCR) – 5th Floor, Chandra Lok
building, 36, Janpath, New Delhi 110001
Government :
Online Reporting Platforms –
for Everyone
National Cybercrime Reporting Portal
(NCRP) - https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/
eBaalNidan
https://ncpcr.gov.in/ebaalnidan/
POCSO e-box - https://ncpcr.gov.in/pocso/
Helpline - ChildLine - Call 1098
National Cyber Crime's helpline number -
Call 1930
Non-Government
Helplines for Everyone
NGO complaint cells/ platforms –
Bachpan Bachao Aandolan -
Call 1800-102-7222; or report online at
https://bba.org.in/complaint-cell/
IWF Aarambh India Reporting Portal – report
online at https://aarambhindia.org/report/
Government Helplines for Women
National commission for women helpline –
Call 7827170170
Other helplines listed by the national
commission for women for women in
distress and legal aid, which could also be
accessed by adolescent girls facing sexual
abuse http://www.ncw.nic.in/helplines
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Resources – Read more on Online Child Sexual Abuse and Cyber Safety.
CBSE cyber safety booklet for children and adolescents, 2019 -
https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents/Cyber%20Safety.pdf
A handbook for adolescents/ students on cyber safety, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India,
2018 https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/CyberSafety_English_Web_03122018_0.pdf
Being Safe Online – a guideline and standard content for raising awareness among children, parents,
educators, and the general public, NCPCR, 2017 https://megpolice.gov.in/sites/default/files/being-safe-
online-ncpcr.pdf
http://aarambhindia.org/child-safety-you/
SnehAI https://snehai.org/; https://snehai.org/snehai-chats/- resources and chatbot for young persons
on sexual, reproductive health and digital safety
You could also see some of these videos on experiences of abuse and importance of digital safety:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cBQtZRbRJU
http://aarambhindia.org/video/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrBKkBR1PYs.
References:
•https://www.cry.org/downloads/safety-and-protection/Cybersafety-of-children-during-COVID-19-and-
beyond.pdf
•http://satyarthi.org.in/wp-content/uploads/ChildSexualAbuse/English/Handbook on Child Sexual
Abuse__English.pdf
• https://www.unicef.org/media/113731/file/Ending Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.pdf
• https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying
Endnotes
1.IAMAI, Nielsen Digital in India Report 2019—Round 2
2.Press Trust of India, India Reported over 24 L Online Child Abuse Cases in 2017-20: Interpol, Business Standard, 17th Nov, 2021
3.Child Rights and You (CRY), 2020, “Online Safety and Internet Addiction (A Study Conducted Amongst Adolescents in Delhi-NCR)”, February 2020; New
Delhi
4.Ramya Kannan, Most Online Content on Child Sexual Abuse from India, The Hindu, April 18th 2020
5.Internet Watch Foundation
6.Hindustan Times, Online searches for child sexual abuse content rose 95% in India during Covid-19, 19thOctober 2021
7.The Population Foundation of India conducted a mixed method study in four states (Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh) in 2022 to examine social
media activity among adolescents, their awareness and experiences of Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA), and parents' and teachers'
perceptions of adolescent digital engagement. The study included an extensive literature review and a quantitative survey involving 822 adolescents, 219
parents, and 45 teachers across rural, urban, and peri-urban regions. The adolescents for the quantitative survey were chosen across rural, urban, and
peri-urban regions, with a sample size powered at 80% and a confidence interval of 95% at each region level. The survey utilized a stratified multi-stage
random sampling strategy, selecting 2 districts in each state and 2-3 blocks within each district, and households with adolescents aged 13-19 were
surveyed. Additionally, 40 in-depth interviews were conducted with various stakeholders, including adolescents, parents, teachers, civil society
organizations, and technology/social media companies.
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Population Foundation of India is a national non-
government organisation (NGO), founded in 1970
by JRD Tata, that promotes and advocates for the
effective formulation and implementation of
gender-sensitive population, health and
development strategies and policies. Working with
government and NGOs, it addresses population
issues within the large discourse of empowering
women and men.
Head Office:
B-28, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi- 110016
T: +91 11 43894100 | F: +91 1143894199
Regional Offices:
Bihar: 123A, 1st Floor, Patlipura Colony, Patna- 800013
T: +91 612 227 0634
Rajasthan: C-9, Shiv Marg, Shyam Nagar, Jaipur- 302019
T: +91 141 410 477
Uttar Pradesh: C-3, Nirala Nagar, Opposite Thandi Park,
Lucknow- 226020 T: +91 522 400 5091
www.populationfoundation.in
@PopFoundIndia
@PopFoundIndia
@populationfoundationindia
The End Violence Partnership is a platform for
collective, evidence-based advocacy and action
launched in July 2016 by the UN Secretary-General with
a focus on fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goal
16.2: ending all forms of violence against children by
2030.