SINGAPORE: After being ostracized and bullied at school, 11-year-old Jane (not her real name) turned to an online karaoke app and posted videos of herself singing the latest songs.
She felt validated by the praise she received and was happy to have friends.
Things took an ominous turn in 2021, when some people she was chatting with on the app made lewd comments about her body and asked her to send nude photos of herself.
Eager to please them, the fifth-grade students complied, even meeting them in places like public parking lots.
Some of the men, some in their 30s, sexually assaulted her.
Jane’s mother only learned what had happened after seeing nude photos of her daughter leaked on social media and called the police. Jane’s case was then referred to the Department of Child Protection at the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Four lawyers and three counselors told The Sunday Times that teenagers under the age of 18 are increasingly being sexually exploited by people they befriend online.
Rafael Ruiz of the Ray Ruiz law firm said such incidents have increased by an estimated 30 to 40 percent over the past five years, with victims as young as 10 years old.
He said: “These incidents broadly fall into two categories. First, victims seeking love and attention online fall prey to manipulation by predators lurking on social media and dating apps. It is something that becomes.
“Secondly, there are teens who offer sexual or companionship services or accept such offers from people they befriend online in order to earn money.”
court precedent
At least three perpetrators were charged in early January with sexual penetration of a minor under 16. All three met the victim on social media and dating platforms.
Ethan Yan Weilun, 46, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a 15-year-old boy he befriended on a dating app. He offered the boy $50 for sex and they met four times between October 2021 and February 2022.
Lim Kar Heng, 46, was also sentenced to 10 months in prison for the same offence. He offered another 15-year-old boy $40 to perform a lewd act on him, and the latter did so in October 2021.
Mr Josephus Tan of Invictus Law Corporation said that in such cases, adults have a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to avoid having sexual relations with minors.
Mr Tan, who saw a 10 to 15 per cent increase in cases involving the sexual exploitation of teenagers by online criminals, said: “A minor is lying about being over 16 and the accused is In some cases, they have accepted it at face value,” he added.
“However, not knowing a child’s age is no excuse. Adults must ensure that a youth is at least 16 years old before having sex, whether oral or penetrative. For commercial sex, prostitutes must be at least 18 years old.
Tan added that apart from the age barrier, it is also a crime if the relationship between an adult and a minor is exploitative in nature. This depends on factors such as age differences and whether adults have some degree of influence over younger people.
Counselors believe the increase in cases is due to teens spending more time online since the coronavirus pandemic.
Lena Teo, director of programs and services at Care Singapore, which supports at-risk youth, said many teenagers felt isolated during the pandemic and turned to look for company online. He said that trend has continued ever since.
“Some young people, as young as 14, are making friends on dating apps without realizing there are predators on them,” she added.
Narasimman Tivasikha Mani, co-founder of local charity Impart, said he has seen teenagers exposed to pornography from an early age develop unhealthy views about sex and intimacy.
“They are highly sexualized and think it’s normal for teenagers to have sex. When they see pornography that depicts abusive or misogynistic behavior, they tend to think that such behavior is acceptable. It might become.”
Singapore court statistics show a decline in criminal cases where the defendant was sentenced for at least one charge of sexual penetration of a minor.
In response to a question from ST, a Singapore Courts spokesperson said there were 57 such cases in 2021, 39 in 2022 and 37 in 2023.
Sexual penetration is just a form of exploitation. Other crimes include sexual abuse and sexual grooming, the lawyer said.
Sexual penetration of a minor over the age of 14 but under the age of 16 is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine. For victims under the age of 14, the maximum prison sentence is doubled to 20 years, and offenders can also be sentenced to caning.
In response to this statistic, counselors said many cases of teen sexual exploitation go unreported.
According to Teo, most victims do not tell their parents about the violence because they blame themselves for the situation, feel embarrassed, or fear being punished. That’s what it means.
She added that people who lack love and support at home, or who have experienced trauma such as sexual abuse in the past, are especially vulnerable to prey.
Narasimhan said young people interested in sex and their sexual identity often go online to find answers, putting them at risk of being misled by predators.
She added: “Some people confuse love with desire because they have been taught that loving someone means having sex.
“While sex is a beautiful way to express love, it does not equal love. Intimacy in a relationship comes from friendship, communication, and being vulnerable with each other.”
Dr. Sheena Jebar, chief executive officer and clinical supervisor at NuLife Care and Counseling Services, said predators create a sense of security in their victims in order to gain their trust.
“Some perpetrators talk to their victims for long periods of time. They build trust by empathizing with their problems before starting sexual conversations or inviting them to meet up outside. We are building,” she added.
Teo cited a recent incident in which a man claiming to be in his 20s had a several-week relationship with a 15-year-old girl over Taylor Swift and offered to give her tickets to the singer’s concert.
“He pressured the girl to meet outside to receive the ticket or he would give it to someone else,” the counselor told the girl, adding that she was at risk of being taken advantage of. He said he tried to persuade him not to accept the offer. .
Impact on victims
Narasimman said teens who have been sexually assaulted or who have had underage sex can feel shame, guilt and remorse.
“In many cases, they feel responsible for the events that happened because they participated in the online platform and participated in the conversation,” he said.
If left untreated, trauma can lead to depression and even suicide, he added.
Dr Sina said it was important to recognize the signs of online sexual exploitation and know how to set boundaries to protect young people from unpleasant people online.
“This includes being aware of what constitutes an inappropriate message and knowing how to block and report unwanted advances,” she added.
Ms Teo said parents should supervise and restrict phone use by minors under 16.
She further added, “Giving a child a cell phone is like giving someone an unlimited credit card. Parents should carefully monitor their child’s online activity so that they understand when and where to draw the line.” We need to communicate openly so that we can do that.”
Warning display
Counselors pointed out signs parents should look out for that their child may be the target of online sexual abuse.
1. Become secretive
It’s normal for young people to have a greater desire for privacy, but if your child frequently closes the door to their room, is possessive about their device, hides the screen frequently, or stays up late at night, This could be a sign of a problem.
2. Social changes
These include being away from home for long periods of time with little or no explanation of where you are going, spending more time talking to friends online than in real life, and giving gifts without disclosing who gave them. This includes receiving.
3. Emotional changes
Young people who have been sexually assaulted may experience changes in their mood and personality. These include angry outbursts, unexplained sadness, fear and anxiety, and even self-harm. – Straits Times/ANN