‘I Had No Choice’: Adult Neutralisation of Online Sexual Engagement with Children

• In Event: Cybercrime Working Group - Youth and interpersonal cybercrimes

Abstract

This paper explores the complex issue of sexual interactions between adults and minors on live internet chat platforms such as Omegle. Utilising the five-point framework of neutralization, it seeks to investigate the ways in which adult participants perceive, justify and rationalise their involvement in such behaviour. Through a rigorous thematic content analysis, the study scrutinized 100 requests for advice posted anonymously on two open-source platforms frequented by legal professionals (Bradbury, Bleakley & Martellozzo, 2024). All requests originated from unidentifiable adults, providing a candid glimpse into their perspectives and reasoning. The findings highlighted the various mechanisms of blame-shifting and neutralisation commonly employed by adults when describing their participation in sexual contact with minors on Omegle and similar platforms. Importantly, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of sexual interactions occurring in live chat environments, particularly those that are harmful and illegal in nature.

Authors

• Paula Bradbury, Middlesex University

• Paul James Bleakley, University of New Haven

• Elena Martellozzo, Middlesex University