Sexual predators are where children are. That includes online games.
Child rights organisation ChildX, which works to stop paid sexual abuse against children, is demanding legislation holding gaming companies accountable for taking measures to secure their platforms for children. The campaign, created by NORD DDB, also spreads information to the public and parents by illustrating how perpetrators can hide behind gaming avatars.
Today, nine out of 10 children between the ages of eight and 19 play various types of online games, and nearly one in four students has been contacted by an adult for sexual purposes before the age of 15. ChildX wants to raise awareness on how children are targeted through gaming platforms, and that something must be done to make the internet a safer place for children. Today, perpetrators in games can easily hide behind an avatar, start chatting with children, and then move the conversation to encrypted chats.
“Using flattery, bribes, lies, and persistence, perpetrators persuade children to send pictures and videos of themselves. They often use threats, and sometimes it leads to serious crimes such as rape. All of this hidden behind an avatar. Parents are powerless, and children are left defenceless. Gaming companies must do more to protect children on their platforms, and we have seen that voluntary measures are not enough – legislation is required,” stated Ida Östensson, secretary-general of ChildX.
The campaign is spreading its message through films, images, and radio segments where ChildX (in addition to legislative changes) aims to inform the public and parents about what actually can happen when their children are in their ‘safe space’.
ChildX’s five tips to parents and relatives of children who play:
- 1. Talk to your child about digital life
- 2. Help young children choose profile picture, username and password
- 3. Test games and apps yourself
- 4. Talk about explicit content
- 5. Talk about grooming
Five facts about sexual abuse of children in games:
- 1. Nine out of 10 children aged 8-19 play various types of computer games on connected devices.
- 2. Among individuals who commit sexual offenses against children online, 41% say they have tried to contact children through online games.
- 3. It takes an average of 45 minutes for perpetrators to groom children in gaming environments, but it can also take as little as 19 seconds.
- 4. One in four Swedish students has been contacted by an adult for sexual purposes before the age of 15.
- 5. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of reported grooming cases increased by 82%.
