According to a survey on the Internet, a quarter of all children and adolescents in Germany have been asked to meet up by adults. 24 percent of the more than 2100 representatively surveyed adolescents between eight and 18 years had this experience. And one in seven (14 percent) was asked by an adult to undress and turn on the webcam or smartphone camera. This was the result of a survey commissioned by the State Media Authority in North Rhine-Westphalia. The numbers are frightening, emphasized the director of the state institute, Tobias Schmid, on Thursday in Düsseldorf.
In November 2163 children and young people between eight and 18 years of age were surveyed by the "KB&B Family Marketing Experts" institute. The focus was on so-called cybergrooming - the contact between adults and minors with sexual intentions. One in six adolescents (16 percent) stated that an adult online contact had promised them something in return for a video or photo. And 15 percent said they had been sent nude pictures without being asked.
Children and young people describe such experiences across all school types, although secondary school or vocational school students are confronted with them more often. There are no significant differences between girls and boys. A look at the channels used shows that those affected receive sexualized address primarily via Instagram, followed by WhatsApp and Snapchat, but also from online games such as “FIFA22” or “Minecraft”.
“We have to protect children and young people from these attacks without restricting their freedoms.
We have to educate people without causing fear, ”warned Schmid.
The perpetrators would have to be held accountable.
Media supervision, the rule of law and society are all required in view of the drastic survey results.
Many of the children and young people interviewed would also like to deal with the topic more intensively in school or discuss it with their parents.
A good third would like to report suspected cyber-grooming to the police or to have it checked independently.