Study reveals 1 in 10 perpetrators of image-based sex abuse are children as eSafety educator warns every school is affected
An eSafety educator shares horrifying stories of sextortion and revenge porn as new data reveals many perpetrators of image-based sex abuse are themselves children.
Small towns where the entire school has seen nude images of a year 7 boy; parents selling the family home and moving away forever after the vile sexting abuse of their daughter.
These are just two of the many horror stories Real Talk director Paul Ninnes has responded to in over a decade of talking to students and schools about eSafety, relationships and wellbeing.
Mr Ninnes’ organisation provides much needed education in the eSafety space following a fresh report from the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) which found one in 10 perpetrators of image-based sexual abuse were children aged 10 to 15.
Image-based sexual abuse is threatened or actual taking and sharing of sexual images of another person without their consent, including sexting, revenge porn and the concerning rise of deepfake pornography.
AIC deputy director Dr Rick Brown said the report showed the need for better education in schools for young people.
“The report reveals the necessity in tailoring responses to particular behaviours,” Dr Brown said.
“Education for younger people will play an important role in minimising potential harms and consequences.”
Mr Ninnes estimates the issue of image-based abuse is more prevalent in Australian schools than parents may think.
“I would suggest every high school has been affected by the sending of nudes,” Mr Ninnes said.
“There was one school we attended where within a week 200 students had seen a nude video of a year 7 boy after he was sextorted.
“We walked into a situation with a kid who never gets in trouble, never does the wrong thing, and now he’s living in that small community where nearly everyone has seen him nude.
“I was in another school where images of the genitalia of over a dozen girls within the school were passed around and it led to one family selling their home and moving interstate.”
To combat the rise in image based abuse, Real Talk has delivered nearly 7000 speaking sessions to over 300,000 students.
“We provide resources and live presentations that try to educate and empower young people see the topic differently,” Mr Ninnes said.
“Key to our message is to see every person has been made with dignity and that person should not be objectified.”
Real Talk is based in Brisbane, but operates in every Australian capital city, mainly working with faith-based and independent schools.
“The main advice I find myself giving to parents is to have the conversation about this stuff with their kids,” Mr Ninnes said.
“Most parents just avoid the conversation or feel they’re going do a poor job so they don’t do it at all.
“I say any conversation is better than no conversation.”
Has your school community been shocked by sexting? Email us confidentially at education@news.com.au
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Originally published as Study reveals 1 in 10 perpetrators of image-based sex abuse are children as eSafety educator warns every school is affected
