The facts and figures behind internet luring
Internet luring is described as using electronic devices such as the Internet or a cell phone to communicate with a child for the purpose of describing explicit sexual conduct or inviting a child to meet for any purpose.
Use of technology for Internet luring in Denver and throughout the country has grown significantly over the past several years. Several facts and figures show just how pervasive this problem has become:
- One out of every seven child Internet users has received unwanted sexual solicitations.
- One in 25 youths has been sexually solicited with the solicitor trying to make contact with the youth offline.
- About 10 percent of youth Internet users have been exposed to explicit sexual material online.
- More than 10 percent of teens admit to sharing naked pictures of themselves online or by text messaging.
- 26% of teens admit to sexting, but this number has declined since 2011.
- In almost half of Internet-initiated sex crimes, the offender offered the victim money or gifts.
- Online chat rooms are by far, the most common place where Internet-initiated sex crime victims meet predators. Overall, it is estimated that there are 3.4 million chat room users at any given time.
- Only 1 in 5 of the worst harassment cases, such as those including threats of aggressive sexual solicitation are ever reported to appropriate authorities.
- 60 percent of teens have received emails or instant messages from strangers. Unfortunately, about 60 percent of those teens reported they responded.
- The Simon Wiesenthal Center recently reported that there are more than 100,000 sites that sell child pornography.
- The FBI list child pornography as the #2 priority of the agency just behind the #1 priority of terrorism.