How to talk about child sexual abuse in the digital world

pexels monstera 5063562 low

WeProtect Global Alliance – Report

August 19, 2021

A FrameWorks UK brief prepared for WeProtect Global Alliance

How we talk about child sexual exploitation and abuse online matters. Our communications can make the difference between salience and dismissal, between hope and fatalism, between collective action and stepping back.

This strategic brief outlines challenges for communicating about child sexual exploitation and abuse online. And offers preliminary recommendations for communicators.

Download PDF – How to talk about child sexual abuse

The briefing provides ideas and sentiments that can be articulated and brought to life in different ways. It means Alliance members can align and amplify their collective messaging – whilst retaining individual identity, tone, and focus.

Viewfullscreen

Key challenges

  • Child sexual abuse is seen as incomprehensible and inevitable
  • Child sexual abuse online is often seen as only a criminal issue
  • Children’s safety online is likely seen as issue for individual caregivers
  • Technical understanding of the digital world is limited
  • Descriptions of harm often stigmatise and shame survivors

Communicators should do more of

  • Lead with shared values – and use them to strengthen calls to action: social responsibility and ingenuity
  • Balance urgency with efficacy
  • Collectivise and expand calls for prevention
  • Explain the solutions to child sexual exploitation and abuse online
  • Talk about the potential for – and causes of – harm

Communicators should do less of

  • Avoid acronyms and minimise industry jargon
  • Avoid direct mythbusting
  • Don’t rely on appeals to child rights alone
  • Avoid crisis frames that tells us child sexual abuse is out of control
  • Avoid facts and stats that focus solely on prevalence

See also

Society & culture discussions in our Portal

You must be a logged-in member of the Portal to view more and join in the full discussions.

WeProtect Global Alliance › Discuss issues with other experts › Society & culture

Discussing accountability of evolving technology and the ownership of responsibility and duty of care to children.

Viewing 1 – 5 of 7 discussions
1 2

You must be logged in to create new discussions.

Access the Portal to collaborate with other member organisations: Login | Register

International collaboration discussions in our Portal

You must be a logged-in member of the Portal to view more and join in the full discussions.

WeProtect Global Alliance › Discuss issues with other experts › International collaboration

To discuss the coordinated response between different sectors, industries and countries, preventing child sexual exploitation and abuse online.

Viewing 1 of 1 discussions

You must be logged in to create new discussions.

Access the Portal to collaborate with other member organisations: Login | Register

See also

Society & culture discussions in our Portal

You must be a logged-in member of the Portal to view more and join in the full discussions.

WeProtect Global Alliance › Discuss issues with other experts › Society & culture

Discussing accountability of evolving technology and the ownership of responsibility and duty of care to children.

Viewing 1 - 5 of 7 discussions
1 2

You must be logged in to create new discussions.

Access the Portal to collaborate with other member organisations: Login | Register

International collaboration discussions in our Portal

You must be a logged-in member of the Portal to view more and join in the full discussions.

WeProtect Global Alliance › Discuss issues with other experts › International collaboration

To discuss the coordinated response between different sectors, industries and countries, preventing child sexual exploitation and abuse online.

Viewing 1 of 1 discussions

You must be logged in to create new discussions.

Access the Portal to collaborate with other member organisations: Login | Register

Categories: International collaboration, Society & culture

Report

Harassment or bullying behavior
Contains sexualised, explicit or sensitive content
Contains misleading or false information
Contains abusive or derogatory content
Contains spam, fake content or potential malware

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

  • See blocked member's posts
  • Mention this member in posts
  • Invite this member to groups
  • Message this member
  • Add this member as a connection

Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Report

You have already reported this .