Sexual Harassment on MySpace Are Predators Lurking Around Every (Virtual) Corner?

Nancy Cheever, M.A. Assistant Professor, Communications California State University, Dominguez Hills Doctoral Student, Fielding Graduate University and Larry Rosen, Ph.D. Professor, Psychology California State University, Dominguez Hills

Introduction Media portray sexual predators as rampant on the Internet Media portray sexual predators as rampant on the Internet Dateline, NBC: ”To Catch a Predator” sexual predators are lured by decoy via chat rooms and subsequently questioned about the activity on national television and then arrested by police

Introduction “Social Networking Makes Protecting Kids Tougher for Cops” Foxnews.com, June 23, 2006Foxnews.com, June 23, 2006 “Sexual predators prowl Internet for prey” Tribune-Review News Service “Congress, MySpace Team Up to Fight Sexual Predators” ABC News, April 21, 2007ABC News, April 21, 2007

Literature Review Mitchell, Wolak and Finkelhor (2007) Mitchell, Wolak and Finkelhor (2007) decline in unwanted sexual solicitations between 2000 and 2005decline in unwanted sexual solicitations between 2000 and 2005 increase in online harassment & unwanted exposure to pornography among 10- to 17- year-olds between 2000 and 2005increase in online harassment & unwanted exposure to pornography among 10- to 17- year-olds between 2000 and 2005 “Youth continue to encounter substantial numbers of offensive episodes online” (p. 124)“Youth continue to encounter substantial numbers of offensive episodes online” (p. 124)

Literature Review Pierce (2007) Pierce (2007) Sampled 700 MySpace pagesSampled 700 MySpace pages 59% portrayed risqué or sexual poses 59% portrayed risqué or sexual poses 17%/28% depicting nudity (male/female) 17%/28% depicting nudity (male/female) Over half the sites used profanityOver half the sites used profanity One-third used sexual profanityOne-third used sexual profanity Sexual images most often on the pages of 14- to 15-year-oldsSexual images most often on the pages of 14- to 15-year-olds

Method Studies 2 & 3 Studies 2 & 3 Asked about perceptions of sexual predators on MySpaceAsked about perceptions of sexual predators on MySpace Asked about perceptions of media coverage of sexual predators on InternetAsked about perceptions of media coverage of sexual predators on Internet Parents and teen pairsParents and teen pairs Study 2: N=267 Study 2: N=267 Study 3: N=342 Study 3: N=342

Results Parents and teens “somewhat” or “very” concerned about potential problems, Study 2 _________________________________________________ Potential Internet Problem Parents Teens _________________________________________________ Sexual predators83%35% Social isolation75%15% Addiction to MySpace72%21% Addiction to the Internet73%17% Others posting personal info82%29% Others posting sexual pictures88%29% Others viewing sexual pictures88%38%

Opinions about prevalence of online sexual predators comparing Studies 2 & 3 _________________________________________________ Sexual Predators Parents Teens Sexual Predators Parents Teens Study 2 Study 3 Study 2 Study 3 Study 2 Study 3 Study 2 Study 3_________________________________________________Prevalence Very rare 6% 3% 19% 11% Some, 31% 17% 46% 30% but not too many but not too many Quite a few 63% 80% 36% 59%

Opinions about media coverage of online sexual predators comparing Studies 2 & 3 _________________________________________________ Sexual Predators Parents Teens Sexual Predators Parents Teens Study 2 Study 3 Study 2 Study 3 Study 2 Study 3 Study 2 Study 3_________________________________________________ Media Coverage Underestimate22%26% 12% 11% Pretty close to truth43%47% 29% 39% A bit overblown22%18% 30% 29% Quite a bit overblown8%6% 13% 11% Blown out of proportion4%4% 16% 10%

Percentages of reported negative images on teen MySpace pages

Online problems, reactions and feelings, Study 3 _________________________________________________ MySpace Problems Study 3 MySpace Problems Study 3_________________________________________________ Sexual solicitation15% Reactions Reacted Appropriately58% Ignored 32% Feeling Very/Extremely upset16% Somewhat upset33% Not upset at all51%

Online problems, reactions and feelings, Study 3 ___________________________________________________ MySpace Problems Study 3 MySpace Problems Study 3___________________________________________________ Unwanted exposure to sexual materials14% Reactions Reacted Appropriately53% Ignored 37% Feelings Very/Extremely upset19% Somewhat upset40% Not upset at all42%

Who gets approached? Females more than males Females more than males On MySpace for more than a year vs. less than a year On MySpace for more than a year vs. less than a year Spending more time on MySpace Spending more time on MySpace More MySpace friends More MySpace friends Feeling there are quite a few sexual predators on MySpace vs. feeling sexual predators are rare Feeling there are quite a few sexual predators on MySpace vs. feeling sexual predators are rare

Discussion Study 2 Study 2 only 8% of the teens had an uncomfortable experience of a sexual nature, mostly from what they termed “perverts”only 8% of the teens had an uncomfortable experience of a sexual nature, mostly from what they termed “perverts” Study 3 Study 3 15% of teens reported approached by sexual solicitor15% of teens reported approached by sexual solicitor in agreement with the 13% solicitation rate reported by Wolak, et al. (2006)in agreement with the 13% solicitation rate reported by Wolak, et al. (2006)

Discussion One in seven MySpace teens receive some sexual solicitation One in seven MySpace teens receive some sexual solicitation Nearly all reacted appropriately:Nearly all reacted appropriately: rebuffed the person rebuffed the person blocked him from their MySpace page blocked him from their MySpace page reported the incident to an adult reported the incident to an adult ignored the solicitation ignored the solicitation Half were not upset by the experienceHalf were not upset by the experience Media reported sexual predation is an overblown, fictionalized account of MySpace Media reported sexual predation is an overblown, fictionalized account of MySpace

Discussion Parents and teens differ on areas of concern Parents more concerned about potential MySpace hazardsParents more concerned about potential MySpace hazards Differing perception of prevalence of sexual predators and the accuracy of media coverage of these predators Differing perception of prevalence of sexual predators and the accuracy of media coverage of these predators

Conclusion View of MySpace different than what is portrayed in the media Unwanted sexual solicitation may not be as rampant on MySpace as the media proliferate It is not a place where unknown people ask for sex Episodes happen, but it is a momentary event that is quickly dismissed

Conclusion MySpace may make adolescent transitions easier MySpace may make adolescent transitions easierOR May provide additional struggles as teens search for their identity May provide additional struggles as teens search for their identity

Recommendations Parents should become more aware of what their teens are doing on MySpace Parents should become more aware of what their teens are doing on MySpace Parents and media should stop focusing on sexual predators and start assessing the MySpace actions of teens Parents and media should stop focusing on sexual predators and start assessing the MySpace actions of teens