This case study talks about an ethical issue of the sex crime that is internet-initiated and research reveals that this issue is different from internet “predator” stereotype who assault children using violence and trickery (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008). Most of the sex crimes that are internet-initiated entail older men who meet and seduce adolescents who are young to have sexual encounters with them through the use of the internet. Among the majority of cases that have been presented, victims knew that they are chatting online with people who are older while others pretended to be young adolescents like them when they meet online the prospective victims. Besides, the perpetrators hardly deceive victims about their interest in sex, and as such, they pretend to develop an intimate relationship with them. Statutory rape is one of the crimes used to charge many of these offenders, which involve sexual activity that is nonforcible with young children who are underage to give their consent to have sexual intercourse with older people. Data from research suggest that sex crimes that are internet-initiated account for a significant but only minor proportion of offenses of statutory rape and a comparatively low sexual crime numbers committed against underage children in general (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008).
The things that generate risk for young adolescents online do not all revolve around innocence concerning sex, but factors which make teens vulnerable to online molesters seduction are multifaceted and are linked to inexperience, immaturity, and the impulsiveness with which particular group of teens explores and respond to sexual urges that are normal (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008). Moreover, even though online molesters mainly target and take advantage of normal adolescents who are mentally developed with interest in sex and romance, some young adolescents may be particularly at higher risks than others. This group includes youths with physical or sexual abuse histories; girls as well as boys who question their sexual orientation or those who are gay; youths who are in conflict with and alienated from parents; and those who regularly use chatrooms, talk about sex with unknown people online, or those who engage risky patterns of on- or offline behavior. Also, young adolescents who suffer from mental disorders such as depression, have tendencies which are delinquent, and those who struggle with problems of social interaction are also vulnerable (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008).
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Although little research concerning online molesters of children exists, they seem to inhabit a range that is restricted on the sex offender population continuum, one that largely excludes the bigger number of true violent or pedophiles or sadistic offenders. Research indicates that offenders are rarely violent and generally not pedophiles. However, exhibitionism and child pornography are among the factors in sex crimes that are internet-initiated. These factors promote or evoke immoral sexual interests that were nonexistent before exposure, thus, they promote this immoral behavior among young adolescents (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008).
Regarding implications for public and prevention policy, the media should stop focusing on describing this issue by characterizing victims as children who are young or emphasize deception and violence. This is because this makes it difficult for professionals as well as the public to know these crimes that are nonforcible like statutory rape and may also thwart victims from reporting such incidences. Second, there should be a clear education for the young adolescents (victims) concerning why sex with an adolescent who is underage is wrong (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008). Also, the efforts of prevention should be focused more on adolescents than on parents because focusing on parents to educate adolescents may not be effective. Besides, prevention should majorly focus on aspects of developing healthy sexual relations to avoid victimization. Additionally, efforts of prevention should also concentrate more on facets of interaction online and less on posting information that is personal. Finally, youths should be educated concerning child pornography and criminal behavior and prevention approaches should be developed targeted at youth’s population who are vulnerable (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008).
There is the need for frank, clear, and accurate programs of prevention for young adolescents, thoughtful treatment of victims, and constant research on this issue. As access to technologies of internet for interaction widens with the spread and introduction of handheld and wireless technologies, like personal organizers and cell phones, the use of the internet by youths could become complex to monitor. As such, accurate education about and description of risks to youths will even grow to a more significant issue (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2008).
Analysis of the Issue from the Case Study using Diagnosis, Prescription, Prognosis, and Prescription
The issue discussed in the case study is about adult men using online communication to identify, and seduce young adolescents into sexual interactions when they meet. The diagnosis involves describing the issue in a formal sense as a social problem. Under this case study, the diagnosis reveals this social problem as online child molestation. Prognosis entails examining the likely cause of the events for the diagnosed social issue to go through. In this case, online child molestation is perceived to be caused by many factors including, first, the use of internet by young adolescents where the offenders (who are adult men) lurk in the venues of the internet popular with adolescents and children and use information publicly posted on the sites of social networking and profiles to find potential victims. Thus, they connect with the victims through chat rooms, e-mails, or instant messages to meet the victims, develop intimate relationships with them, and seduce them to have sexual encounters. Another cause may be due to the prevalence of young adolescents chatting with unknown people online in the name of developing romantic relationships. Additionally, the cause may be caused by the lack of awareness of minors developing intimate relationships with unknown adults online as a wrong behavior which can result in crime. Also, online child molestation may be caused by viewing of child pornography online, luring youths to have sexual encounters with the offenders. Lack of parents and teachers educating children and young adolescents directly on issues regarding sexual relationships may also be perceived as another cause.
Prescription: the first prescription will be to arrest these sex offenders who molest children and young adolescents online. Second, laws should be enforced to regulate the use of the internet, such that depending on the state, minors will be regulated on the use of the internet either by parents or law enforcers. Minors who will be found online without meeting the prescribed standards will face the law. Third, entails addressing the issue through frank and clear education of children and young about intimacy, sexual relationships, child pornography, and child molestation so that they can be aware. This will help them to avoid chatting with unknown adults who are interested in having intimate relationships with them. Also, minors should be educated to report such incidence whenever they occur so that the perpetrators may be afraid of taking such actions. Fourth, the victims should be treated as well as the offenders.
Proscriptions entail instituting measures that will assist in avoiding or preventing the problem in the future. Under this issue, first, sentencing policy for offenders should be harsher. Second, introducing features online which may help protect victims like video chats, which will prevent victims from being deceived by adults about their age, or physical appearance.
Reference
Wolak, J., Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, K. J., & Ybarra, M. L. (2008). Online" predators" and their victims: myths, realities, and implications for prevention and treatment. American psychologist , 63 (2), 111.
