Progression, maintenance, and feedback of online child sexual grooming: A qualitative analysis of online predators

Others reported a preference for targeting victims on websites which offered a video chat function due to the opportunities this presents for facilitating sexual interactions.

“Others reported a preference for targeting victims on websites which offered a video chat function due to the opportunities this presents for facilitating sexual interactions (De Santisteban et al., 2018; Kloess et al., 2019).”

Some individuals reported selecting victims based on the age displayed on their profile, while others were thought to select victims based on their profile pictures.

“While some individuals reported selecting victims based on the age displayed on their profile (De Santisteban et al., 2018), others were thought to select victims based on their profile pictures (Kloess etal., 2019).”

Three articles described individuals initiating contact with multiple victims simultaneously or sequentially.

“Three articles described individuals initiating contact with multiple victims simultaneously (De Santisteban et al., 2018; Kloess et al., 2019; Shannon, 2008) or sequentially (Kloess etal., 2019).”

Individuals were reported to fabricate their profession/career in line with victims' interests to pique their curiosity and maintain engagement.

“and (b) fabricate their profession/career in line with victims' interests, again to pique their curiosity and maintain engagement (De Santisteban et al., 2018; Shannon, 2008).”

Four included articles described that individuals often presented themselves as a trustworthy confidante as a method of building a deeper emotional connection with the victim and sustaining engagement.

“Four of the included articles described how individuals often presented themselves as a trustworthy confidante as a method of building a deeper, emotional connection with the victim, and sustaining engagement (De Santisteban et al., 2018; Kloess etal., 2019; Powell etal., 2021; Whittle etal., 2015).”

Individuals with a history of OSG and TA-CSA offenses were observed to make use of false online personas in 10 articles.

“Individuals with a history of OSG and TACSA offenses were observed to make use of false online personas in 10 articles (Chiang, 2018; Chiang & Grant, 2019; De Santisteban et al., 2018; Gámez-Guadix et al., 2018, 2021; Kloess etal., 2019; Seymour-Smith & Kloess, 2021; Shannon, 2008; K. Thomas etal., 2023; Whittle etal., 2015).”

This strategy has been suggested to help an individual establish their role in the child's life as a confidante by building trust, increasing contact, and using learnt knowledge to tailor their methods of engagement.

“This strategy has been suggested to help an individual establish their role in the child's life as a confidante by building trust, increasing contact, and using learnt knowledge to tailor their methods of engagement (Chiang, 2018; De Santisteban et al., 2018; Whittle etal., 2015).”

Some individuals used empathy to build trust, demonstrated through prolonged telephone conversations, providing a space for children to feel listened to and validated, and offering advice.

“Some individuals used empathy to build trust (Powell et al., 2021), demonstrated through actions such as engaging in prolonged telephone conversations, providing a space for children to feel listened to and validated, and offering advice (De Santisteban et al., 2018; Kloess etal., 2019).”

Across six articles, many individuals with a history of OSG and TA-CSA offenses portrayed themselves as a friend to victims.

“Across six articles (Chiang, 2018; Chiang & Grant, 2019; De Santisteban etal., 2018; Kloess et al., 2019; Shannon, 2008; Whittle etal., 2015), many individuals with a history of OSG and TA-CSA offenses portrayed themselves as a friend to victims.”

Some individuals assisted victims with their homework.

“Some individuals assisted victims with their homework (De Santisteban etal., 2018), seemingly hoping to enhance their connection with the child to ensure continued engagement.”

Expressions of love, care, and affection for the victim were identified as a recurring tactic across eight articles.

“Expressions of love, care, and affection for the victim were identified as a recurring tactic across eight articles (De Santisteban et al., 2018; Gámez-Guadix et al., 2018; Kloess et al., 2017, 2019; Powell et al., 2021; SeymourSmith & Kloess, 2021; K. Thomas etal., 2023; Whittle etal., 2015).”

In four included articles, individuals were seen to establish an exclusive relationship with the victim in order to maintain their engagement.

“In four of the included articles, individuals were seen to establish an exclusive relationship with the victim in order to maintain their engagement (De Santisteban etal., 2018; Kloess etal., 2017, 2019; Whittle etal., 2015).”

Individuals typically requested the child's contact information, including telephone number, instant messaging account details, and less commonly email address, to migrate communication.

“Individuals typically fulfilled this desire by requesting the child's contact information, including their telephone number (De Santisteban etal., 2018; Kloess etal., 2019; Shannon, 2008), instant messaging account details (Kloess etal., 2017, 2019; Shannon, 2008), and, less commonly, their email address (Kloess et al., 2017).”

Four articles reported the use of material gifts.

“Gift-Giving. Four articles reported the use of material gifts (De Santisteban et al., 2018; Gámez-Guadix et al., 2021; Kloess et al., 2019).”

Three articles discussed how individuals adapted their personas/identities to match their victim's preferences in terms of age, gender, and sexual orientation.

“Three articles specifically discussed how individuals made use of this strategy and adapted their personas/identities to match their victim's preferences in terms of age, gender, and sexual orientation (Chiang, 2018; Chiang & Grant, 2019; De Santisteban etal., 2018).”

Individuals provided victims with a variety of gifts, including concert tickets, phones, clothes, and sex toys, with the intention of creating a sense of obligation within the victim to reciprocate and thereby achieving compliance and engagement.

“More specifically, individuals provided victims with a variety of gifts, including concert tickets, phones, clothes, and sex toys, with the intention of creating a sense of obligation within the victim to reciprocate in some way, and thereby ultimately achieving compliance and engagement (De Santisteban etal., 2018; Kloess etal., 2019).”

The most prevalent form of bribery described across eight articles was monetary exchange.

“Monetary Exchange. The most prevalent form of bribery described across eight articles was monetary exchange (Chiang, 2018; Chiang & Grant, 2019; De Santisteban et al., 2018; Gámez-Guadix etal., 2018; Kloess etal., 2019; Powell etal., 2021; Shannon, 2008; Whittle etal., 2015).”

In De Santisteban et al.'s (2018) study, individuals persuaded victims to send explicit pictures or undress via webcam under the pretense of securing acting or modeling work.

“and in De Santisteban etal.'s (2018) study, individuals persuaded victims to send explicit pictures or undress via webcam under the pretense of securing acting or modeling work.”

The nature and level of contact between individuals and their victims were described in six articles, with some contact as frequent as daily and of an intense nature.

“Frequency and Intensity of Contact. The nature and level of contact between individuals and their victims were described in six articles (Chiang, 2018; De Santisteban etal., 2018; Kloess etal., 2019; Shannon, 2008; K. Thomas etal., 2023; Whittle etal., 2015), with some contact as frequent as daily and of an intense nature (De Santisteban etal., 2018; Kloess etal., 2019): 'I couldn't like”

The use of blackmail by individuals to incite victims into participating in sexual acts/activities was reported across 10 articles.

“Blackmail. The use of blackmail by individuals to incite victims into participating in sexual acts/activities was reported across 10 articles (Chiang, 2018; Chiang & Grant, 2019; De Santisteban et al., 2018; Gámez-Guadix et al., 2021; Kloess et al., 2017, 2019; Powell et al., 2021; Seymour-Smith & Kloess, 2021; Shannon, 2008; K. Thomas etal., 2023).”

The exchange of and request for explicit material was a strategy commonly used by individuals as part of their interactions with victims, reported across eight articles.

“Exchanging Sexual Images and Videos. The exchange of and request for explicit material was a strategy commonly used by individuals as part of their interactions with victims. It was reported across eight articles (Chiang, 2018; Chiang & Grant, 2019; De Santisteban etal., 2018; Kloess etal., 2017, 2019; Seymour-Smith & Kloess, 2021; K. Thomas et al., 2023; Whittle etal., 2015).”

Individuals were reported to direct victims to undress and expose certain body parts, including genitalia, via webcam, and perform masturbatory sexual acts.

“More specifically, individuals were reported to direct victims to undress and expose certain body parts, including genitalia, via webcam (Chiang, 2018; Chiang & Grant, 2019; De Santisteban etal., 2018; SeymourSmith & Kloess, 2021), and perform masturbatory sexual acts (Kloess etal., 2017; Whittle etal., 2015).”

Previous research suggests that such adaptations serve to maximize chances of initiating and maintaining conversations/interactions/relationships with victims and achieving their compliance and engagement.

“Again, this is in line with previous research that suggests that such adaptations serve to maximize chances of initiating and maintaining conversations/interactions/relationships with victims, and achieving their compliance and engagement (De Santisteban et al., 2018; Lorenzo-Dus & Izura, 2017).”