SECTION 5
Definitions of key words and phrases related to online risk
When talking about online risks and harms, with children and young people or with other adults, itâs important to use clearly defined language and terminology.
CHILD / CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (CYP)
Any person below the age of eighteen years.
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Child sexual abuse is a broad category that defines the harm caused to children by forcing or coercing them to engage in sexual activity, whether they are aware of what is happening or not.
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
MATERIAL (CSAM)
This refers to material that depicts and/or that documents acts that are sexually abusive and/or exploitative to a child. The term âchild pornographyâ should be avoided, as it can imply consent and undermine the seriousness of the subject.
CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
A form of child sexual abuse in which a person takes advantage of a power imbalance to coerce or groom a child into engaging in sexual activity of any kind. Coercive tactics might include offering gifts or money, pretending to be a peer, friend, and/or boyfriend/ girlfriend, and threatening to share images of the child. The term ‘child prostitutionâ is not acceptable due to potential implications that the child is somehow willingly involved, complicit in, or to blame for their abuse. Moreover, âprostitutionâ is legal in some countries, while the sexual exploitation of children is a crime.
CONSENT
The agreement to do something, or permission for something to happen. Consent is required in many situations, not just situations of a sexual nature. For example, you should ask for consent before posting a picture of someone online or adding them to a group chat.
COERCION / COERCIVE CONTROL
The practice of persuading or manipulating someone to do something by using force or threats. Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation, and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten a victim.
FILTERING
An internet filter is a type of software that determines what content will be available to the user, or what will be restricted or blocked.
GROOMING
âGrooming/online groomingâ refers to the process of establishing/ building a relationship with a child either in person or by using the Internet or other digital technologies to facilitate either online or offline sexual contact with that child.
HARMFUL SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR (HSB)
This is developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour displayed by children and young people which is harmful or abusive. Child-on-child sexual abuse is a form of HSB where sexual abuse takes place between children.
IMAGE BASED ABUSE/
NON-CONSENSUAL
IMAGE SHARING
A form of online sexual harassment which refers to nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos or videos being taken and/or shared without someoneâs consent.
ONLINE HARM
Online harm is any behaviour that may hurt a person physically or emotionally, that takes place on any digital platform.
ONLINE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Any unwanted sexual behaviour, conducted on any digital platform, which can make a person feel intimidated, threatened, humiliated, or discriminated against. It is recognised as a form of sexual violence.
PARENTAL CONTROLS
Settings that can be applied to individual devices or services that allow or restrict the content that can be accessed to ensure that content is age appropriate.
SEXTING
Sexting has been defined as the self-production of sexual images, or as the exchange of sexual messages or images. It is important to note that it is often done by consenting adolescents, though there are forms of unwanted sexting, e.g., images that have been taken, shared, sent, or received non-consensually.
SURVIVOR
A person who has been hurt, harmed, or injured because of a crime, accident, or other event or action, or who has suffered because of the actions of someone else. Those who have experienced a traumatic event may prefer to use the term survivor rather than victim (below), due to the positive connotations of resilience that it evokes.
VICTIM
Someone who has suffered because of someone elseâs actions or beliefs, or as a result of unpleasant or traumatic circumstances.
VICTIM BLAMING
Any language or behaviour that implies (intentionally or unintentionally) that the victim of abuse or harm is fully or partially responsible for their experience.
Wherever possible, these definitions have been informed by the Luxembourg Guidelines for Interagency Terminology.
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