Risk Factors in Victims of Sexual Assaults Who Acquainted, and Met with Their Perpetrators via Social Networking Services

Abstract

Objective: In this study, our aim was to analyze the cases who had been exposed to sexual abuse by the individuals whom the internet user was acquainted with via social networks, and met them outdoors with the intention to distract attention to the potential dangers of social networks, and also discuss possible measures to be taken to ensure safe use of internet.

Material and Method: For this purpose, 13 out of 162 cases who had been referred to the Department of Forensic Medicine, between the years 2011, and 2013 with a history of exposure to sexual abuse by the perpetrators whom they had gotten in personal contact after their acquaintance via internet were included in the study.

Results: All of victims were female and perpetrators were male. Mean age of the cases was 17.00 +/- 2.3 years. Only one case was in the age group of >= 19 years. Sexual assault was claimed to be perpetrated via vaginal (n=4), anal (n=3), both vaginal, and anal (n=3) penetrations, while in three cases, any incident of penetration was not alleged. Physical examination revealed evidence of vaginal (n=3), anal (n=3) or both vaginal, and anal (n=1) penetrations.

Conclusion: It is not completely possible to prevent children from exposure to harmful environment, and behaviours encountered on-line, so we think that necessary accumulation of information about harmful internet content, and educational courses on effective protection from its adverse effects will be beneficial.