Myth busters (9 questions)

Myth busters
Myth 1

Myth 1

FALSE

Online child sex offenders are always older males.

FACT

Online child sex offenders can be any age, gender and from any background.

It can also be difficult to verify people are who they say they are online. Always trust your instincts and report suspicious or inappropriate behaviour towards children.

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Not everyone online is who they say they are

Sexual extortion

Understanding image-based abuse


Mythbuster 2

Myth 2

FALSE 

Online child sex offenders are always ‘online strangers’ 

FACT 

Online child sex offenders can be known to the victim. 

It’s sometimes assumed that children are targeted by ‘online strangers’. This isn’t always the case. 

Offenders can be someone a child or young person knows, for example, someone they work with, family friend or relative.  

Always trust your instincts and report suspicious or inappropriate behaviour towards children. 

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Not everyone online is who they say they are 

Sexual extortion 

Understanding image-based abuse 


Mythbuster 3

Myth 3

FALSE 

High school-aged children are more at risk of online child sexual exploitation. 

Fact 

Anyone under the legal age can be a victim of online child sexual exploitation. 

Research from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation found that more than two thirds of parents believe teenage children are more at risk of online child sexual exploitation. This is not the case. 

The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation is increasingly receiving reports of younger children engaging with online child sex offenders from around the world. 

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Not everyone online is who they say they are 

Sexual extortion

Understanding image-based abuse


Mythbuster 4

Myth 4

FALSE 

Only females are at risk of online child sexual exploitation. 

FACT 

Anyone under the legal age can be a victim of online child sexual exploitation. 

Teaching children and young people critical thinking skills can help them to identify suspicious behaviour and take action. 

Find Advice

Not everyone online is who they say they are 

Sexual extortion

Understanding image-based abuse


Myth 5

FALSE  

Online child sexual exploitation doesn’t happen where I live. 

Fact 

Law enforcement continues to disrupt online child sex offender networks across the globe. 

Children and young people are groomed online to produce child sexual exploitation material both overseas and locally. 

This material is sought after by offenders around the world. 

You can report inappropriate behaviour towards children to your local police. 

No information is too small or insignificant. 

Find Advice

Not everyone online is who they say they are

Understanding image-based abuse

Sexual extortion

What are the signs of online child sexual exploitation?

Technology settings and parental controls

Supervising your child online


Mythbuster 6

Myth 6

FALSE 

Parental controls and privacy settings are enough to keep children and young people safe online. 

Fact 

Multiple strategies are recommended for online child safety. 

It’s sometimes assumed that technical actions such as parental controls and filters alone are enough to keep children and young people safe, but sometimes more is needed. 

There is no ‘quick fix’ when it comes to online safety or protecting your child from harm, and it’s important to use a range of prevention strategies. 

A complete approach includes using both technology settings as well as open conversations with children and young people about what they do online.   

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Technology settings and parental controls

Building safe online habits

Not everyone online is who they say they are

Sexual extortion

Understanding image-based abuse


Mythbuster 7

Myth 7

False  

Children's games (on gaming consoles or apps) are always safer. 

Fact 

Any site, game, app or platform with an internet connection and chat function can be used by online child sex offenders. 

Online apps, games, sites, and platforms designed for children and young people are often assumed to be safer. 

If there’s an internet connection as well as an online chat function, children and young people can potentially communicate with anyone.  

While online games can be a fun way to connect with friends, it’s important to have oversight of your child’s activities and encourage open conversations about their activities and who they may be talking to online. 

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Not everyone online is who they say they are

IMs, DMs and chat

Online gaming


Mythbuster 8

Myth 8

False  

Children and young people in smaller or more isolated towns are safer from online child sex offenders 

Fact 

Online child sexual exploitation is a borderless crime. 

A common misconception is that children and young people in smaller or more isolated towns are safer from contact by online child sex offenders. 

In online grooming cases, the offence occurs in the communication between the victim and the offender. Physical contact is not needed for police to become involved. 

Children and young people should never meet up with someone they have only ever met online. However, if they do, they should always be accompanied by you or another trusted adult and meet in a public place. 

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Not everyone online is who they say they are

IMs, DMs and chat

Social networking and meeting people


Mythbuster 9

Myth 9

False  

Online grooming is a long process so there would be time for parents or carers to notice the signs. 

Fact 

It can take only minutes for online child sex offenders to gain trust and form ‘friendships’ with potential victims. 

Offenders use a variety of tactics to groom children. 

Some may be sophisticated, using multiple platforms and multiple identities. 

Others will simply contact as many children as possible, hoping some will give in to their demands. Some may only target a single child. 

Online grooming can also be difficult to detect as online child sex offenders can be manipulative and encourage or shame victims into keeping their interactions a secret. 

Have open and non-judgemental conversations and be approachable if your child comes to you for help. 

Find Advice

What are the signs of online child sexual exploitation?

Not everyone online is who they say they are

Sexual extortion

Understanding image-based abuse