8 minutes.  Researchers discover sexual predators “groom” children for sex online in just 8 minutes.  In an article in the Irish Independent newspaper, researchers at Middlesex University in London revealed that online predators appear to be much more aggressive in the way that they approach children in cyberspace.  The study found that online sexual predators “cut to the chase” and turn online chat conversations with children to sexual topics within 3 minutes of meeting the child.  In addition, the study showed that a bond was formed between the child and the predator just 5 minutes later, often leading to a sexual exchange of information, sexual photographs and even online sexual activity.

This information is significant because previous beliefs that there was a period of grooming by sexual predators may be inaccurate in an online setting.  Historically, sexual predators engaged in a period of trust-building with a child victim where the predator would have secrets with the child, give gifts or build an emotional bond with the child.  Knowing this, parents took some comfort in believing that their supervision would lead to discovery and termination of any inappropriate relationship involving their child before the relationship turned sexual.  It appears that this grooming grace period simply does not exist online.  This leaves parents without time to intercept predators before they can exploit our kids.

This information simply highlights the need for parents to prevent this type of online contact because there is no time for parents to intervene once the contact is made.   Have frank discussions with kids about online sexual activities.  Kids often view cyberspace as a place where they can be anonymous and do things that they would not do in any other setting like swap nude photographs or participate in sexual activity using video chat.  Children do not seem to get that no one is anonymous online and video chats are often recorded and uploaded to child pornography websites.  In addition, parental control settings on computers and gaming systems for young children may be valuable in preventing the child from visiting places where they could be manipulated and preyed upon.

About the Author:  Patrick Noaker is the Senior Litigation Attorney in the Jeff Anderson law firm. He has successfully litigated hundreds of cases involving childhood sexual abuse, exploitation and pornography for clients across the United States.  Patrick has also won a number of landmark cases involving child pornography and sexual abuse and regularly fights for the rights of victims of child maltreatment in the court system.  Patrick has written a number of scholarly articles on child sexual abuse and he is a member of the National Crime Victims Bar Association, American Association for Justice and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

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