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Internet Platforms, Sexual Content, and Child Protection

Explore the prevalence, stigma, and risk factors of pedophilic interests online. Dr. Craig Harper from Nottingham Trent University and Prostasia Foundation discuss the complexities surrounding this issue.

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Internet Platforms, Sexual Content, and Child Protection

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  1. Internet Platforms, Sexual Content, and Child Protection Dr. Craig Harper Nottingham Trent University (UK) / Prostasia Foundation craig.harper@ntu.ac.uk @CraigHarper19 @ProstasiaInc @PsychologyNTU

  2. Session outline • Setting the scene – pedophiles on the internet • Social prevalence of pedophilic interests • Stigmatization and internet company responses • Introducing Prostasia Foundation

  3. Defining pedophilia • Sexual interest in prepubescent children (Seto, 2018) • Aged < 12 (approx) • < Tanner Stage 2 • May be associated with specific biological markers in the brain (Cantor et al., 2008) • Might fit the criteria for ‘sexual orientation’ (Seto, 2012) • Early onset • Resistance to change efforts • Concordance between sexual and romantic attractions

  4. How common are [pedophilic] sexual interests in children? • 4.1% of community-based men (N = 8,718) self-report using sexual fantasies involving children (Dombert et al., 2015) • General prevalence estimates (males) approx. 5% (Seto, 2018) • 9.5-20% adult men self-report some degree of sexual interest in children (Ahlers et al., 2011) • Rises to 25% when analysing chat room transcripts (Bergen et al., 2013) • Less than 50% of child sexual offenders are truly ‘pedophilic’ (Schmidt, Mokros, & Banse, 2015) • Will all ‘pedophiles’ commit sexual offences?

  5. ‘Virtuous pedophiles’?

  6. Stigmatization and its effects • Social stigmatization • Conflation of ‘pedophile’ with ‘child molester’ • Core moral responses to child abuse themes (e.g., disgust) • High levels of support for punitive responses (e.g., preventative incarceration) • Self-stigmatization • Stigma-related stress (e.g., isolation, fear of discovery) • Perceived higher levels of difference to the ‘normal’ population • Low self-esteem

  7. Risk factors for child sexual offending • Sexual interests in children • Antisociality • Stress • Social isolation • Implicit theories (e.g., ‘dangerous world’) • Substance abuse

  8. Introducing Prostasia Foundation

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