Protect Your Kids

Regarding "Sexual Solicitations and Approaches Online"

  • 19 percent of the young Internet users surveyed received an unwanted sexual solicitation in the past year.
  • 5 percent of the surveyed youth received a distressing sexual solicitation (i.e., the solicitation made them feel very or extremely upset or afraid).
  • 3 percent of the youth received an aggressive solicitation involving offline contact or attempts or requests for offline contact.
  • None of the solicitations led to an actual sexual contact or assault.

One-third of the surveyed youth who had received a solicitation were male; two-thirds were female. The great majority (77 percent) of the victims were 14 to 17 years old; however, almost one quarter were ages 10 to 13. The younger group reported 37 percent of the distressing solicitations.

Regarding "Unwanted Exposure to Sexual Material", the survey found:

  • 25 percent of the surveyed youth reported unwanted exposures to sexual material.
  • 6 percent of the youth had experienced distressing exposures (i.e., the exposure made them very or extremely upset).

A slightly higher percentage of boys than girls reported exposures (57 percent vs. 42 percent) or distressing exposures (55 percent vs. 45 percent). Almost two-thirds of exposures were to youth ages 15 to 17. Less than one-tenth were to 11- and 12-year-olds, and none to 10-year-olds.

Regarding harassment, the survey found:

  • Six percent of the young people surveyed reported harassment incidents (threats, rumors, or other offensive behavior) during the past year.
  • Two percent of the surveyed youth reported episodes of distressing harassment (i.e., the incident made them feel very or extremely upset or afraid).