Violence against children online

Online violence encompasses a wide range of activities which can be perpetrated by adults or peers who can be family members, acquaintances or strangers. Adults can try, and sometimes succeed, to engage children and adolescents in sexual activities online. They can coerce children to abuse other children. Peers can bully or sexually harass schoolmates, extort images and spread false rumors, or digitally record sexual activity that occurs offline. A type of abuse that has been particularly exacerbated by technology is the making and distribution of images or videos depicting child sexual abuse or exploitation.