Cybercrimes

Open Access: No.

Abstract

This research explored women’s early experiences with male-perpetrated online stranger sexual harassment, including the age at which it occurred and its nature and impact. Most participants reported early experiences with unwanted sexual communication, most often beginning in their adolescence. Perpetrators were typically older males seeking a younger, pubescent girl to whom he would livestream masturbation, send dickpics or pornography, or offer money for sex. These communications elicited fear, disgust, anger, confusion around sexual development, and distrust of men. These experiences are prevalent and have enduring impact, reinforcing the need for policy, education, and clinical interventions.

Relevance

It is clear from these stories that pornography is central to women’s early experiences with online sexual harassment. These experiences occurred when the women were still young girls (the average age was 15 years old; the youngest were only 7). The perpetrators commonly asked for nude or sexual images, or send them uninvited.

For example, one “common theme emerging from the women’s early experiences was that of encountering “sugar daddies”, or men offering financial support in exchange for sexual favors. These men engaged in deliberate and somewhat predatory efforts to find young girls online and to offer them money or gifts in exchange for sexual access. This included sending girls images of pornography, showing themselves masturbating, or asking the girls to perform sexual acts or send picture of themselves.”

Citation

Salerno-Ferraro, A. C., Erentzen, C., & Schuller, R. A. (2026). Women’s Early Experiences with Online Stranger Sexual Harassment. Violence Against Women. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012261418690