An Online "Friendship" Can Lead to Sexual Assault or Cybersex Crimes
Most cases of sexual violence are committed by someone the victim knows, and the same may be true of crimes committed between people who have formed Internet relationships.
Recent news reports, including a story posted on South African news site IOL News, are serving as a reminder that even a "friend" on a social media site could harbor intentions toward committing a cybersex crime or a sexual assault. The danger lies in the reality that many young people are open and honest about their activities and interests in their social media postings, allowing people seeking to commit cybersex crimes to easily befriend Internet users and establish a false atmosphere of trust.
Rudolph Zinn, criminologist, believes more teens and young adults are also experiencing Internet-based sex crimes than ever before. Demonstrating Zinn's statement is a recent court case in which a young woman has accused a college-aged male of rape. The two met through a social media network before arranging an in-person meeting at a nightclub.
As law enforcement officials look further into the case, they are uncovering past criminal activity by the accused and are also looking more closely at his profile on Facebook. If the man accused rapist turns out to be a sexual predator, it may reflect a growing trend cited by Zinn that increasing numbers of young Internet users are falling victim to relationships that may seem harmless, but the "friend" on the other end could be a sexual predator.
Cybersex crimes could include blackmailing a teen into posting explicit pictures online, or engaging a teen in cybersex behaviors. Recent research is also investigating possible links between Internet pornography use and people attempting to physically act out Internet sex fantasies by committing acts of sexual violence. The studies could heighten the risks associated with teens and young adults engaging in Internet relationships with strangers.
