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      Global Report

      Child ‘self-generated’ sexual material online: children and young people’s perspectives

      WeProtect Global Alliance Report

      Weprotect

      Focus of this Report

      The definition of child ‘self-generated’ sexual material is a complex one. This is partly because it includes a broad range of relational dynamics, interactions, and image-sharing scenarios that can now be said to account for a high proportion of the child sexual abuse content currently being shared online. Children and young people may create this type of material as a positive and consensual exploration of their sexuality. On the other hand, other ‘self-generated’ material may occur following unwanted pressure or harassment within relationships or even directly through the circumstances of grooming, exploitation, abuse and coercion by adults or other peers. In this research conducted with Praesidio Safeguarding, we listened to children and young people’s views on the issue of ‘self-generated’ sexual material in three different country contexts – Ghana, Thailand and Ireland. We conducted qualitative data gathering in the form of small focus groups with children aged 13-17. We encouraged them to share their general thoughts about how and why ‘self-generated’ sexual materials were shared, their views on responses to this issue and their ideas on how this could be improved.

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      Global Report Date:

      May 1, 2023

      Region:

      Global

      Topics:

      Child Participation
      online child protection
      Child ‘self-generated’ sexual material online: children and young people’s perspectives Report

      Research Objectives:

      Recommendations from children and young people - These recommendations come from direct suggestions from children in this study and are based on their key messages. We have identified actions that would help realise the changes that children wanted
      Improved education - Governments and schools should review their educational responses to child ‘self-generated’ sexual content.
      Non-judgmental support - Governments, schools and civil society should provide children with confidential support from trained adults.
      Institutional change - Legal reforms are needed to ensure children are not criminalized for possessing or sharing their own images either as victims or in a consensual way with another child or young person.
      Tech solutions - Companies should provide high-quality information from online influencers and educators, and invest in technical solutions to respond to the circulation of ‘self-generated’ sexual material.
      Clear and effective language - Relevant and effective language should be used when talking about these issues, with a review of the term ‘self-generated’ sexual material for practitioners.

      Authored By:

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      WeProtect Global Alliance

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