Children still at primary school sexting, at risk from predators, warn police

Children in Tasmania as young as primary school age are sending sexualised photos of themselves via mobile phone, police warn.

Australian Federal Police's Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle at UTAS to give a talk on cyber safety. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

CHILDREN in Tasmania as young as primary school age are sending sexualised photos of themselves via mobile phone and are at risk of being targeted by online predators using gaming platforms, police say.

Senior figures in Tasmania Police and the Australian Federal Police in Hobart have voiced concerns that some children are engaging in unsafe cyber habits, at much younger ages, and that the number of cases is growing.

While issues of sexting, cyber bullying and grooming have been prevalent in teenagers, now the age group from eight to 12 is pushing the boundaries on social media and taking risks in their use of online gaming chat forums.

Tasmania Police Detective Senior Sergeant Nikala Parsons told the Sunday Tasmanian while officers had dealt with young teens on the issues of cyber bullying or sexting, more jurisdictions were now also targeting the protection of primary school-aged children.

“Those aged between eight to 12 are being exposed to grooming … and they sext,” she said.

“A lot of this is because of the access to pornography online. It is the norm, so they see sexualised behaviour as what life really is.”

Hobart-based Australian Federal Police Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said authorities had identified an increase in trends with young people producing and sharing sexually explicit material, and in some cases then unknowingly engaging online with child sex offenders.

“The AFP assessment centre is now receiving more and more reports of children as young as four producing sexually explicit material and uploading this material to social media platforms,” Sgt Hardcastle said.

Nationally, the AFP received almost 18,000 reports of child exploitation material in 2018, nearly double the amount of reports from the previous year.

State breakdowns were not able to be provided, but Sgt Hardcastle said Tasmanian households were not immune to the dangers.

“While the number of cases of online grooming in Tasmania have been limited, we know it is something that does occur and continues to be a threat to our young people online,” he said.

Child safety advocate Hetty Johnston, of Bravehearts, agrees children are opening themselves up to cyber safety risks at a younger age.

“This is the new reality. Kids are on these platforms at younger and younger ages and parents are feeling increasingly overwhelmed,” she said.

Ms Johnston said parents and carers needed to be across the online activities of children because, “kids do not see risk”.

“They do not see themselves as vulnerable. They are bulletproof, believing they understand the risks and can manage them without the involvement of parents,” she said.

“They see this behaviour as harmless, that is until it goes wrong. Sexploitation is sexting gone wrong.”

Sen-Sgt Parsons said the new national policing approach was to have open discussions with children, about sex and sexualised behaviour.

“And to not be afraid to talk about it,” she said.

“Many children will hide what is occurring or attempt to conceal their behaviours and conversations because it has been a taboo subject, but it’s important to open up those lines of communication, to understand that what they see online, that is choking, or bondage et cetera, is not normal.”

Ms Johnston said communication and education was key.

The Bravehearts founder praised the Tasmanian Government for its part in educating children about personal safety through a program rolled out to preschools and primary schools.

“Bravehearts do not have counselling services in Tasmania as yet, however, Tasmania is currently the only state that funds every child to see Bravehearts’ Ditto, Keep Safe programs,” she said.

“This is just so powerful and effective.”

If you suspect a child is in immediate danger, you should call triple-0.

Report child online sexual exploitation to police or via the Report Abuse button on the ThinkUKnow or Australian Federal Police websites.