The Influence of Parents on the Cybergrooming Process

Parental behavior has a direct impact on the victimization of minors in the context of cybergrooming. Mothers and fathers can act as advocates for their children against online sexual harassment. At the same time, their actions can increase the likelihood that a child will become involved in the process of committing a crime. The article cites the following as risk factors: the implementation of negative parenting styles, sherenting, restrictive mediation, and child trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Particular attention is paid to situations where parents are used by cybergroomers to indirectly influence children in order to involve them in sexual acts. The empirical study is presented by the analysis of criminal case materials consisting of 33 transcripts of Internet communications between parents and cybergroomers. Typical variants of the circumstances of the communicants’ collision on the Web and the peculiarities of the parents’ behavior corresponding to them are described. Three groups of mothers and fathers were singled out depending on their position regarding psychosexual safety of their children: those who keep their children safe, those who put them at risk and those who violate the rights of their underage children. It was concluded that parents predominantly wanted to act as advocates against cybergrooming (60,7 % of 33 cases). At the same time, a significant proportion of parents (39,3 % of 33 cases) put their children at risk or in direct danger of cybergrooming and other sexual abuse, and gender specificity is presented. Options for preventing the involvement of minors in cybergrooming through the organization of work with their parents are offered.

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