The misuse of social media to disseminate sexual violence content remains widespread. Unfortunately, technological advancement has not been matched by adequate digital ethics. This situation is further exacerbated by the massive circulation of sexual violence content involving children across various platforms. In 2024, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children recorded Indonesia as the third-highest country in terms of reported sexual exploitation cases, reaching 1.45 million.
A Clinical Psychologist at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing UGM (FK-KMK UGM), Dr. Indria Laksmi Gamayanti, M.Si., Psychologist, views this phenomenon as a serious form of violence against children, not merely a matter of digital morality. According to Dr. Gamayanti, every image, video, or recording depicting child sexual exploitation is evidence of a crime and an extension of the victim’s suffering, as each time the material is shared, the child effectively experiences repeated victimization.
Dr. Gamayanti highlighted that unrestricted access in digital spaces makes such violence easier to produce, distribute, trade, and conceal.
“The public needs to shift its perspective; this is not ‘sexual content,’ but sexual violence against children. Children can never be considered to have given consent in exploitative situations. Accountability must lie with the perpetrators, distribution networks, buyers, those who enable it, and the digital ecosystem that fails to protect children,” she said on Wednesday (5/5).
Furthermore, Dr. Gamayanti explained that the psychological impact on child victims of sexual violence can emerge in both the short and long term. In the short term, children may display fear, emotional disturbances, and difficulties sleeping or concentrating.
In the long term, the effects can develop into anxiety, depression, and challenges in forming relationships. In cases of digital exploitation, the psychological burden tends to be heavier due to concerns that the content will continue to circulate.
“Children may feel that they are ‘never truly safe,’ as digital traces make the traumatic experience feel continuously present, even after the initial incident has ended,” she said.
Experiences of violence significantly affect a child’s development of self-confidence, sense of security, and social relationships. Dr. Gamayanti noted that child victims of sexual violence often experience damage to three core psychological foundations: a sense of safety, self-worth, and trust in others. As a result, victims may no longer feel secure and tend to develop negative self-perceptions.
In social interactions, children may withdraw, fear engagement, or struggle to build healthy attachments. These impacts are also reflected in declining self-confidence, causing children to lose the courage to express themselves, learn, or socialize.
“Children’s self-confidence will decline. Therefore, recovery efforts must go beyond stopping the spread of content and should also restore the child’s psychological dignity. Children need to feel valued, protected, trusted, and not blamed,” she explained.
To support children who are victims of sexual violence, Dr. Gamayanti emphasized a recovery approach that is safety-centered, trauma-informed, and child-focused. As a first step, ensuring the child’s sense of safety is essential. During the recovery process, the child must be fully protected from perpetrators, threats of content dissemination, family pressure, and blaming questions.
Dr. Gamayanti explained that, clinically, commonly recommended interventions include trauma-based therapies such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), which helps children and adolescents manage emotional and behavioral responses following trauma. She also referred to guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), which emphasizes the importance of empathetic, safe, and appropriate responses from healthcare professionals, as initial responses play a critical role in recovery. She added that families have a crucial role in supporting recovery.
“Families play a very significant role. What children need most is to be believed, not blamed, not forced to repeatedly recount their experiences, and not shamed,” she explained.
Dr. Gamayanti outlined several early warning signs to watch for, including sudden behavioral changes such as becoming more withdrawn, appearing anxious when using a phone, reacting defensively when devices are checked, frequently deleting chat histories, receiving messages from unknown individuals, or appearing fearful when notifications appear.
“However, it is important to remember that these signs should not be used as a basis to interrogate children. Parents need to approach children calmly. A safe approach will create more space for communication than a pressuring one,” she emphasized.
On this issue, Dr. Gamayanti stressed that the stance of those closest to the victim must be clear. Children are victims whose dignity must be restored, while perpetrators and distribution networks must be held accountable.
“Protecting children in digital spaces is a shared responsibility. Limiting screen time and regulating accessible content based on the child’s age is essential,” she concluded.
Author: Diyana Khairunnisa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Magnific