1. American Youth and the Internet EU Kids Online: European Research on Cultural, Contextual & Risk Issues regarding Children and the Internet June 11, 2009 London School of Economics and Political Science, London David Finkelhor, Ph.D. Janis Wolak, JD Janis Wolak, JD University of New Hampshire Crimes against Children Research Center

2. Not the Same: The Internet has risks The Internet promotes risks 2

3. 3

4. The Internet as risk amplifier Makes youth more vulnerable to predators Promotes risky sexual behavior Encourages suicide/anorexia Threatens academic & physical development Promotes bullying, crime & extremism 4

5. More sexual victimization? 5

6. Juvenile Sexual Victimization Trends, Juvenile Sexual Victimization Trends, 1993 - 2005 Source: Source: National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), each year, for number of incidents; Crimes Against Children Research Center (CCRC) calculations for rates. Victimizations : * Note: Known offenders are family members or acquaintances; unknown offenders are strangers or unidentified. 52% Decline

7. Rate per 10,000 Children (<18) *Source: NCANDS 53% Decline Sexual Abuse Substantiations 1990-2006*: Extrapolated to U. S. Child Population 7

8. More risky sexual behavior? 8

9. Teenage Birth Rates, 1991-2005 Source: Source: National Vital Statistics Reports: Sept. 25, 2001, Vol. 49 (10); June 6, 2002, Vol. 50 (10); Dec.17, 2003,Vol. 52 (10); Nov.23, 2004 Vol.53(9). Rate per 1,000 Females (15-17 yrs old)

10. Grades 9 - 12: Sexual intercourse with 4 or more people, 1991-2005 Source: Source: Youth Risk Behavior Survey 30% decline 1991-2005 10

11. *Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 9 th Graders: Ever had sexual intercourse, 1991-2007 -16% 1991-2007 11

12. * Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grades 9 -12: Intercourse, past 3 months, 1991-2007 -6% 1991-2007 12

13. * Source: Child Trends’ analyses of the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth Girls: 1 st sexual experience age 15 or younger with someone 3+ years older, 1995-2002 -10% 1995-2002 13

14. * Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grades 9 – 12: Condom use by sexually active students, 1991-2007 +35% 1991-2007 14

15. Promotes suicide? 15

16. Teen suicide, 1990-2003 Rate per 100,000 Teens (15-17 yrs) Source: Center for Disease Control: WISQARS (fatal suicides, all types) 16

17. *Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention 17 Grades 9-12: Thought seriously about attempting suicide, 1991-2005

18. 12 th Graders: Felt sad or hopeless, 1999-2005 * Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention 18

19. Negative effect on academics and physical activity? 19

20. * Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences 20 8 th Grade: National mathematics scores, 1990-2007

21. * Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics K-8 th Grade: After-school sports at least once a week, 2001-2005 +10% 2002-2005 21

22. *Source: Monitoring the Future data, 1991-2006 8 th Graders: 4+ hours of television daily, 1991-2006 -21% 1991-2006 22

23. Promotes bullying, crime, extremism? 23

24. Ages 12-18: Criminal victimization at school, past 6 months, Ages 12-18: Criminal victimization at school, past 6 months, 1995 - 2005 PercentTotal Source: Source: Dinkes, R., Forrest Cataldi, E., Kena, G., & Baum, K. (2006). Indicators of school crime and safety: 2006 (NCES 2007- 003/NCJ214262). Washington, DC: US Departments of Education and Justice. 60% decline 1995-2005

25. * Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the national Crime Victimization Survey, 1999-2005 -15% 1999-2005 Ages 12-18: Targets of hate words at school, past 6 months, 1999-2005 25

26. * Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grades 9-12: Physical fight in the past year, 1991-2007 -16% 1991-2007 26

27. * Source: Monitoring the Future data 8 th Graders: Marijuana use, past 30 days, 1996-2006 -42% 1996-2006 27

28. Could the Internet be protective? Reducing boredom and alienation Changing patterns of risky offline exploration Increasing detection of risky behavior and conduct problems 28

29. Other explanations for improvements Economic prosperity More effective social problem intervention Psychiatric medications 29

30. Implications for Research 30

31. Study Internet risk in context of all risk Examine totality of harms –E.g., online bullying as an aspect of bullying Test whether activity patterns contribute to overall risk and risks in specific contexts –For both online and offline activities 31

32. Common definitions of risk and harm in online and offline contexts Online and offline bullying Online and offline sexual solicitation Online and offline sexual crimes 32

33. Measure and differentiate the very serious portion of the risk spectrum Not just casual sexual solicitation Not just any mean language Not just any exposure to pornography 33

34. Measure whether “risks” result in real harms Use accepted measures of harm Capture populations most likely to experience harm Reconsider use of “risk” unless involves criminality or empirical associations with harm 34

35. Enjoy… The vibrancy of the youth online culture The opportunity to contribute to discoveries about childhood and the modern world The pleasures of good colleagues 35

36. 36 Crimes against Children Research Center University of New Hampshire david.finkelhor@unh.edu janis.wolak@unh.edu www.unh.edu/ccrc