How to protect children against grooming and danger on the web. The Ministry is alarmed

As many as 400 percent increased the number of online incidents using sexual content about children – according to the latest data. There are seven times more of these content than before. – We are dealing with an unprecedented situation – alerts Krzysztof Gawkowski, deputy prime minister and minister of digitization.

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Children are threatened on the web, and parents in real life – often helpless. – Images that adults have about who a person committing violence or abuse of children is are very outdated and inadequate to the situation – indicates Dr. Iga Kazimierczyk, president of the “Space for Education” Foundation from Korczak's university – the Academy of Applied Sciences.

This is no longer on the street that tempts with candies. Instead of street, there are messengers on social platforms and in games, and on the other side – sophisticated manipulation.

– Seduction, called grooming, is that he is gradually trying to make friends, tries to meet such a person, trying to cease his needs, draw specific information, data, photos – explains Dr. Konrad Maj, social psychologist, SWPS University.

With a request, threat or blackmail – manipulated children are now taking themselves. – Today, the child in a digital environment knows almost everything. This time has been shortened today to forty minutes, and record holders can seduce the child to the sexual limit of the relationship in a few seconds – alerts Dr. Konrad Ciesiołkiewicz, a member of the State Commission for Counteracting Pedophilia, Korczak University – Academy of Applied Sciences.

Thanks to the work of experts of the NASK State Research Institute, it is known who exactly is in the target of pedophiles. They are almost exclusively interested in girls. Over 80 percent of sexual content applies to children before puberty, aged 3 to 13.

– We are in the duty of civilization. Children, as people who experience this violence, need to know how to defend themselves effectively against it – emphasizes Dr. Iga Kazimierczyk.

There is nothing to count on technological giants. – Unfortunately, digital platforms, digital enterprises do not sufficiently protect young people, because theoretically these young people under the age of 13 should not be there – indicates the expert.

School could help, but the subject of health education will be optional. – Health education was about assertive communication – notes Dr. Iga Kazimierczyk.

NASK experts occupy a day to remove nearly 90 percent of reported abuse from the network. – This statistics, these 90 percent of disappearing, removable content with the use of children, is one of the best results in the European Union – emphasizes Krzysztof Gawkowski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digitization.

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Just a simple application. On the page on duty.NET, filling out a short form takes a while. Sexual content about children can also be reported by the Mobatwater application. – We will take action, we do not ask how, we do not ask what, we do not ask who – says Martyna Różycka, head of the Dyżurnet.pl team of the NASK Foundation.