·      The majority of teens aged 12-17 years are connected to the internet, which provides a platform for sexual predators to victimize their victims using social network platforms.

Facts:

-  Most youths use social networks sites as a form of primary communication with offenders (Mitchell, Finkhello, Johnes, & Wolak, 2010).

- Children use a variety of social apps that can be used by perpetrators to access the information of children ("Cybercrime Module 12 Key Issues: Online Child Sexual Exploitation And Abuse")

·      Pedophiles use social network platforms to prey on children, resulting in the victimization of the targeted minors.

Facts:

-  Social networks and sexual crimes is a new form of child abuse (Wolak, Finkelhor, Michel, & Ybarra, 2008).

-  Youths sending personal information such as names, and pictures are more prone to victimization and physical attempt having sexual relations (Wolak, Finkelhor, Michel, & Ybarra, 2008).

Sources

Mitchell, K., Finkelhor, D., Jones, L., & Wolak, J. (2010). Use of Social Networking Sites in Online Sex Crimes Against Minors: An Examination of National Incidence and Means of Utilization. Journal Of Adolescent Health, 47(2), 183-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.01.007

Weaver, J. (2018). Social Media Sites Can’t Decide How to Handle ‘Non-Offending’ Pedophiles. Vice.com. Retrieved from https://www.vice.com/en/article/zmwn43/social-media-sites-cant-decide-how-to-handle-non-offending-pedophiles.

Wolak, J., Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, K., & Ybarra, M. (2008). Online "predators" and their victims: Myths, realities, and implications for prevention and treatment. American Psychologist, 63(2), 111-128. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.63.2.111