Australian teens disclose online sexual harm to AI chatbots
CANBERRA: Australian teenagers who experience online sexual abuse are more likely to disclose it to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots than to authorities, a national study has found, reported Xinhua.
CANBERRA: A recent national study conducted by Adelaide University's Australian Cybercrime Observatory has revealed that Australian teenagers who have experienced online sexual abuse are more likely to disclose the incident to AI chatbots than to traditional authorities. The study, which surveyed almost 2,000 individuals aged 16 to 18, found that 18.7% of victims chose to confide in an AI, while 13.2% reported the abuse to a teacher, doctor, counsellor, police officer, or helpline.
Over a quarter of the cases involved AI sharing sexual images without consent, and at least one in 25 Australians, including children, had witnessed or had a close friend experience AI-related online sexual victimization before the age of 18. The research, published in Child Abuse & Neglect, emphasizes the need for accessible reporting pathways through AI tools, as well as peer-focused prevention and broader child protection measures.
Associate Professor Timothy Cubitt, a co-author of the study, emphasized the urgency of adapting to these emerging threats to safeguard children.
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