Danger increasing from youth sexual violence online – Expert

The lawyer and initiator of a conference in Germany focused on young people and the media has said content depicting sexualised violence among young people was rising on the internet.

“There is a lot of helplessness among children and young people, but also among parents and teachers, as to how to deal with it,’’ Gesa Stückmann said at the sixth Federal Youth Conference on Media in the northern port city of Rostock on Friday.

She said that she is increasingly being consulted in cases of sexual violence among young people online.

Such instances include lewd comments via messenger services, the unwanted sending of nude photos and the sharing of secret film footage from changing rooms.

“Unfortunately, this is a mass phenomenon today due to digital technology,’’ Stückmann said.

The possible offences related to this phenomenon include possession and distribution of child pornography, sexual harassment, or sexual abuse of children, she said.

It can also be a criminal offence when a 15-year-old sends a nude selfie to an 11-year-old without her asking for it.

It needs to be clear, she added, that those affected have the right to defend themselves and that perpetrators can expect legal consequences.