Grooming Cybervictims: The Psychosocial Effects of Online Exploitation for Youth
Abstract
The social and cultural communities of the Internet provide a virtual venue with unique perspectives on power, identity, and gender. This paper presents an overview of the benefits and risks of Web-based interactions for youth. As an illustrative example, the psychosocial effects of online grooming practices which are designed to lure and exploit children are discussed. Constructive solutions and a plan of action which foster protective and productive learning experiences are explored.
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Methods of engagement and manipulative strategies serve many functions, including desensitizing children, lowering inhibitions, stimulating sexual curiosity, and normalizing sexual relationships between adults and children.
“Overall, these methods of engagement and manipulative strategies serve many functions, including desensitizing children, lowering inhibitions, stimulating sexual curiosity, and normalizing sexual relationships between adults and children (Berson, 2003; Kloess et al., 2017, 2019; O'Connell, 2003; Olson et al., 2007; Singer etal., 1992).”
From Unraveling the Complexities of Offender Strategies as Part of Online Sexual Grooming and Technology-Assisted Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review (2026) · cites this paper as Berson, 2003
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A review of online grooming: Characteristics and concerns
Whittle, H., Hamilton-Giachritsis, C., Beech, A., & Collings, G. (2013) · Aggression and Violent Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.avb.2012.09.003 · Cited by 242 · see citing works
Online Child Sexual Exploitation: Prevalence, Process, and Offender Characteristics
Kloess, J. A., Beech, A. R., & Harkins, L. (2014) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/1524838013511543 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
Black, P. J., Wollis, M., Woodworth, M., & Hancock, J. T. (2015) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.12.004 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Kloess, J. A., Seymour-Smith, S., Hamilton-Giachritsis, C. E., Long, M. L., Shipley, D., & Beech, A. R. (2017) · Sexual Abuse · doi:10.1177/1079063215612442 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Wachs, S., Jiskrova, G. K., Vazsonyi, A. T., Wolf, K. D., & Junger, M. (2016) · Psicología Educativa · doi:10.1016/j.pse.2016.01.002 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Kopecký, K. (2017) · Telematics and Informatics · doi:10.1016/j.tele.2016.04.004 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Internet-related child sexual abuse: What children tell us in their testimonies
Katz, C. (2013) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.06.006 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
“Stop Waking the Dead”: Internet Child Sexual Abuse and Perspectives on Its Disclosure
Katz, C., Piller, S., Glucklich, T., & Matty, D. E. (2021) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260518796526 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Strategies and cues adolescents use to assess the age of an online stranger
Groenestein, E., Baas, N., van Deursen, A. J. A. M., & de Jong, M. D. T. (2018) · Information, Communication & Society · doi:10.1080/1369118x.2017.1309443 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Porcelli, C., Anderson, F., & Kloess, J. A. (2026) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/15248380251411261
- Authors
- Berson, I. R.
- Affiliations
- University of South Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Berson, Ilene R.
- ORCID
- Berson, Ilene R.
- Venue
- Journal of School Violence
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2003-01
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 5-18
- ISSN
- 1538-8220 (ISSN-L)
- 1538-8239
- OpenAlex
- W2136442541
- Cited by
- 101
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 5.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of School Violence (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- online grooming, child sexual exploitation, online safety, psychosocial impact, online identity, protective strategies, online learning
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