Description: | The Internet holds tremendous potential for our nation's youth; however, the misuse of the Internet to prey on them is a serious problem requiring action by legislators, families, communities, and law enforcement. While we have made some strides in helping to prevent such victimization, the results of this survey, Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later, shows we have not done enough. Exposure to unwanted sexual material, sexual solicitations, and harassment were frequently reported by the youth interviewed for this study. While we are encouraged by the smaller proportion of youth who received unwanted sexual solicitations, we are disturbed by a new trend of solicitors asking youth to provide sexual pictures of themselves. These results call for a more aggressive prevention plan. While we strongly believe in the power of the Internet to provide valuable information for those of all ages, we also believe children need extra attention and guidance as they venture online, because they, more than any other group of the population, are most vulnerable to risks found on the Internet. |
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