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Warning messages to prevent illegal sharing of sexual images: results of a randomised controlled experiment

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 08:43 authored by Jeremy PrichardJeremy Prichard, Joel ScanlanJoel Scanlan, Krone, T, Caroline SpiranovicCaroline Spiranovic, Watters, P, Wortley, R
Illegal distribution of sexual images by adults and minors is an expanding problem. We examined whether messages would dissuade men (18-32 years) from visiting a fake website offering access to free pornography to users who uploaded a sexual image of a woman. Participants seeking to enter the site (n=528) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions. Group 1 went straight to the landing page. Group 2 encountered a text warning that sharing sexual images of people who appear under 18 years old is illegal; Group 3 received the same message with an accompanying animation. Sixty percent of Group 1 participants attempted to access the site, compared with 43 percent in Group 2 and 38 percent in Group 3. We argue that online messages offer a valuable strategy that can help reduce image-based abuse and the distribution of child sexual abuse material, including by minors.

Funding

Australian Research Council

History

Publication title

Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice

Volume

647

Pagination

1-15

ISSN

1836-2206

Department/School

Faculty of Law

Publisher

Australian Institute of Criminology

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

© Australian Institute of Criminology 2022

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Crime prevention

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    University Of Tasmania

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