Harm is happening behind closed chats: Private messaging a key facilitator of online sexual violence against teens
It’s a common misconception that harm to kids is relegated to the shadowy corners of the internet. The reality is that most of it happens on the most popular social media platforms millions of Canadian teens use every day.
An estimated 9 in 10 teen victims of online sexual violence in Canada experience harm in private messaging environments, according to a recent study by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P).
This finding, based on a nationally representative survey of nearly 1,300 Canadian teens aged 13 – 17 who had themselves experienced online sexual violence, reinforces the challenges of parental and caregiver oversight when many of these risks are hidden from plain sight.
What harms are teens experiencing?
Some of the most common types of online sexual violence teens reported experiencing include:
- Unwanted sexual talk: Nearly 4 in 5 teen victims (79%) were sent sexual questions or explicit comments without warning.
- Unsolicited sexual images: More than half of teen victims (52%) received sexual images they didn’t ask for.
- Pressured to send sexual images: Over 2 in 5 teen victims (44%) were pressured into sending someone sexual images of themselves.
Across all harms, the survey found teen victims described feelings of shame, fear, confusion, and pressure to remain silent — often believing adults would blame them or punish them if they come forward.
Where are these harms happening?
Teen victims largely reported they experienced these harms on Snapchat (39%). The next two most-cited platforms are Instagram® (20%) and Facebook® (20%).
Teens aren’t just being victimized on lesser-known, fringe websites: it’s happening right in front of them, in their private messaging apps and on popular social media platforms.
How can parents help protect their teens online?
Parents are the first line of defense. Steps parents and caregivers can take include:
- Setting the precedent: Set a household standard that gives you the ability to review the apps your teens download, the users in their contact list, and occasionally the messages they receive.
- Reviewing privacy settings together: Go through privacy settings together to both familiarize yourself with the platform and to ensure the settings include controlling who can contact your teen, who can tag them, and who can add them into chats.
- Asking about messages: Discuss the kind of content your teen is receiving and seeing.
- Reassuring your teen: Remind them they can always go to you or another safe adult if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable online.