(Elise Corbari, LIBRA) Youngsters are always “online”, how they use technology to improve their sexual knowledge? What is the meaning of online relations for adolescents? How can a victim support service prevent unsafe behaviours in order to make adolescents aware about potentialities and risks of the online behaviours?

1. Dr. Elisa Corbari
Utrecht, 25th May, 2016
DIGITAL CONNECTIONDIGITAL CONNECTION
Child Victims Perspective: WhichChild Victims Perspective: Which
Possible Prevention?Possible Prevention?

2. Fde InstituteFde Institute
training | research | consultationtraining | research | consultation
FDE Institute of Mantua is a corporate company that works in
the field of Advanced Training, Scientific Research and
Integrated Consultation, recognized by Region
Lombardy.
The primary objectives of our Institute are the “cultural
promotion” and the “stimulation of scientific debate” by
the elevation of knowledge of general population and
connection between scientific knowledge and
professionals.
In particular the Institute of Criminology of MantuaInstitute of Criminology of Mantua is also a
centre for data collection and statistical elaborations that
offers the consultation of experts able to deal the
phenomenon of the deviance by multidisciplinary models.
The multi-professionalitymulti-professionality of the équipe works in a
perspective of constant integration and enrichment of the
know out, thanks also to the international network of
reference. 2

3. Libra OnlusLibra Onlus
Network for the study and development of dynamics of mediationNetwork for the study and development of dynamics of mediation
LIBRALIBRA is a no profit association (ONLUS) –
spin-off of the Institute of Criminology of
Mantua (FDE) – which follows three
main objectives:
1. Support to the victims of crime and
to people in disadvantage;
2. Treatment and re-education of the
author of crime;
3. Community empowerment.
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4. Centre for the Support for Victims ofCentre for the Support for Victims of
Crime for the province of MantovaCrime for the province of Mantova
The Centre offers support to victims proposing
individual response depending on different
needs caused by the crime.
CSVR offers listening and connection with local
facilities, acting as a mediator in order to
overcome easily the condition of vulnerability.
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5. Centre for the Support for Victims ofCentre for the Support for Victims of
Crime for the province of MantovaCrime for the province of Mantova
Offers free of charge and in respect of victim privacy …
Reception of the person in condition of vulnerability
Connection with local facilities and support in the build
or rebuild of the so-called Social Cobweb
Information and first legal advice
Emotional support and meeting empowerment oriented
Victimization prevention through different projects
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6. EU CHILD SAFETY ONLINE
PROJECT
The project seeks to draw together the evidence base on
online offender and victim behavior including:
online grooming
possession, collection and distribution of indecent child
images
identification of policing and industry best practice in
prevention

7. The project has four primary and interdependent
objectives:
Construction of a unique cyberpsychological forensic risk
analysis to isolate which users of a social network are most
likely to become targets for online grooming
Link project specific risk characteristics with other risk
factors for grooming, like risk-taking and sexual orientation
concerns
Creation of victim typologies of cybergrooming to assist
with identification of vulnerable individuals and groups
Development of ‘Best Practice’ guidelines for industry and
law enforcement in the identification and prevention of
cybergrooming
EU CHILD SAFETY ONLINE
PROJECT

8. This work package aims to explore the nature and incidence of
online child abuse and victimization in order to develop
victims typology.
This part of the study will be divided into two stages, the first
will include an exploration of the experience of young people
(18-25 but related to adolescence) around online abuse
including online solicitation and cyberbullying via online
survey methodology.
The second stage will include a series of interviews with
possible victims (aged 18-25) of online abuse and/or
grooming.
This part of the research will be conducted in Ireland, Italy
and the UK by researchers experienced in work with child
victims.
EU CHILD SAFETY ONLINE
PROJECT – WP 2 Project Activities

9.  Valid replies: 1166
 Female: 71,8% Male: 28,2%
 Most of the participants are from 19 to 23
 Sexual orientation
Heterosexual 83.3%
Gay or Lesbian 5,7%
Bisexual 5,8%
EU CHILD SAFETY ONLINE
PROJECT – Youngsters surveys

10.  Most used devices: mobile phone, desktop pc, game
console ( more than 50%)
 46,5% went online every day/almost every day
 More than 50% went often online for: social networking
sites, Instant messaging, listening to music; more than
40% went often and sometimes online for chat rooms.
 More than 40% went online at home in a private room such
as your bedroom or at home in a shared space.
 Parents never asked about online activities only in the
13,8% of the cases
 64% of the participants had no filters or blocks in internet
access
EU CHILD SAFETY ONLINE
PROJECT – Youngsters surveys

11.  Only 18% never shared videos and photos online
 Only 29,5% never gave out personal information online
(e.g. your last name, the name of your school, your home
address, your email address)
 Only 6% met an adult (only knew online) face to face
 39% were harassed or threatened online or by text; more
than 15% harassed or threatened someone else online
or by text
 32% send someone a sexually suggestive message, or a
photo or own video by phone or online
 More than 30% received requests for a sexually suggestive
photo or video
EU CHILD SAFETY ONLINE
PROJECT – Youngsters surveys

12.  Highest level of parent/guardian education: possible risk
factor, people with high level of education likely to have
access to internet, more diverse range of contacts, putting
them at increased risk of sexual solicitation. Or perhaps
low educated parents linked to lack of internet
monitoring, internet safety teaching?
 I had at least one good friend I could rely on : Possible
risk /protective factor – social isolation vs social support.
 I got on well with my parents: Possible risk
factor/protective factor – family conflict vs family support
 I mostly enjoyed being in school: Possible risk
factor/protective factor. Brå (2007) those dissatisfied with
school more likely to be approached sexually by adult
on/offline.
EU CHILD SAFETY ONLINE
PROJECT – risk or protective factors

13.  Had so much alcohol I got really drunk / Played truant
from school/ Got in trouble with my teachers for bad
behaviour / Used drugs : All risky offline behaviours
associated risk of victimisation through risky online
behaviours
 Possible risk factor - visiting chat rooms (Ospina, Harstall,
& Dennett, 2010; Whittle et al., 2013).
 Possible risk factor - a private place, computer away from
home (Ospina et al., 2010).
 Parent/s had blocks or filters on Internet access:
possible risk/protective factors. (Quayle et al., 2012;
Whittle et al., 2013).
EU CHILD SAFETY ONLINE
PROJECT – risk or protective factors

14. Preventing victimizationPreventing victimization
«Affettività» project, adolescent oriented
«Bullying» project, conflict resolution oriented
First classes of the junior high school

15. Projects
target

16. Why projects are addressed to students of the fWhy projects are addressed to students of the firstirst
classes of the junior high school (11 years old)?classes of the junior high school (11 years old)?
• Transition age in which became important the self
awareness related to the relationships with peer group,
and specifically the relationship with the opposite sex
• Age of definition of self awareness
• Age of the first independence
• Junior high school seems like a «bottleneck school», a sort
of cultural and social melting pot, different than high
school, accepting students from different social,
economical and cultural conditions.
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17. Projects
contents

18. How to prevent victimization?How to prevent victimization?
• Through self action awareness
• Improving awareness of the situation that could
reduce the sense of responsibility
(i.e. communication through media)
• Acquisition of knowledge about psychological
mechanisms (insecurity, fear, blame) that induce
to the commission of actions without effect valuation or
to remain within unpleasant situations
• Through an introspection path in order to better
understand own feelings and actions, also
feeling with others.
• Justification vs. Explanation
«Perpetrate» «Understand and modify» 18

19. What we proposed during the meetings?What we proposed during the meetings?
• Role-playing games about gender stereotypes
• Role-playing games about feelings and emotions
identification
• Universal emotions and role of social emotions
• Case study – discussion with the class splitted into two
groups:
• What kind of reasons bring to that actions?
• What kind of mechanisms permit to avoid the situation?
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20. Online and offline relationsOnline and offline relations
• Differences and features
• Action responsibility
• Reduced sense of responsibility
• Social emotions during face to face interactions
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21. For further information
www.istitutofde.it
www.euchildsafetyonlineproject.com
Or sending a message to
criminologia@istitutofde.it
Thanks for the attention!Thanks for the attention!
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