Child users of online and mobile technologies – risks, harms and intervention

The relatively recent rapid growth in the development, accessibility and use of mobile phones and the internet has transformed the lives of young people, especially in developed countries. There are many types of electronic or cyber-aggression, including flaming, online harassment, cyberstalking, denigration (put-downs), masquerade, outing, exclusion, putting up false profiles and distributing personal material against someone's wishes. Difficulties of investigation include the ethics of asking children what they have seen without introducing them to unfamiliar sexual ideas; social desirability effects when adolescents deliberately seek pornography but are unwilling to disclose this; and accidental exposure resulting from the internet ‘pushing’ pornography at those seeking informational, health or other content. There is evidence of an upward trend in many risks, and possibly of associated harm. The following factors appear important predictors of the risks of harm: personality factors, social factors and digital factors.