NCJ Number
222331
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 32 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2008 Pages: 277-294
Date Published
February 2008
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined the characteristics of youth bloggers and their risk for online sexual solicitation and harassment.
Abstract
Results indicate that one in six youth Internet users (16 percent) are bloggers. In addition, consistent with a previous study, bloggers were more likely to be females with heavy Internet use. They were also more likely to use instant messaging. Given the context of blogs, it was not surprising that bloggers were more likely than other youth to post personal information on line where others could see, including their real last name, phone number, school name, and home address; their age or year of birth; and pictures of themselves. Posting of personal information online has been the focuses of current prevention and safety messages regarding blogs to date, which suggest that sex offenders may use such information to perpetrate their crimes. What was found was that interacting with people youth meet online but do not know in person is what puts youth at risk for online sexual solicitation, rather than posting personal information online. The findings have both reassuring and concerning elements for those trying to determine whether blogging puts youth at risk for online victimization. Given the widespread popularity of blogging sites among youth in combination with recent media reports of sex crimes stemming from encounters at such sites, it is important to develop an informed knowledge base about blogging and whether it poses an increased risk for the receipt of unwanted sexual solicitations and harassment. Using data from the Second Youth Internet Safety Survey (YISS-2), a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,500 youth Internet users (ages 10-17). Tables, references