While communication technology has made life easier for the majority of people, it has also created new threats to users. Scamming, online harassment and exploitation are all concerns, especially for people who lack digital security literacy, such as young children.
Although the issue has been tackled by the government and various NGOs in the past, a new campaign seeks to take an innovative approach to the problem.
The digital campaign was launched on March 21 by UNICEF Cambodia and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, according their press release.
This campaign features four short videos highlighting two teenagers tackling online sexual extortion with the help of alter-egos, which represent the mind and heart.
Each video offers practical tips on how to prevent or handle sextortion situations. It draws the attention of social media users – especially adolescents – to the risks associated with certain online habits, and offered positive steps such as accepting friend requests with caution, setting boundaries, being aware of their online presence and where to find help when needed.
According to the release, the campaign aims to reduce the incidence of online sexual exploitation and abuse among internet-using children by addressing predatory grooming practices in an innovative and interactive manner.
“These kinds of digital content aim to spur a shift in social media culture by equipping youth with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate online risks,” it said.
“To create effective change, we must approach this topic in accessible, informative, and compassionate ways. By leveraging storytelling and technology on social media platforms where youth are already active, we can empower and protect them from harm,” said Will Parks, UNICEF Cambodia representative.
UNICEF expects that the campaign videos will reach more than two million adolescents and parents over the next three months with an empowering message “You can protect yourself and get help”. Children and their caretakers can call the +855 92 311 511 toll-free helpline for support.
This campaigned builds on the organisation’s “Let’s Chat About Online Grooming” campaign, which reached over two million people across social media platforms last year.
“Dedicated digital content and collaborative advocacy campaigns can help build a safer Cambodia for children and adolescents, reducing their risk of exploitation,” added Parks.
In Cambodia, 11 per cent of internet-users aged 12 to 17 had experienced online sexual exploitation and abuse in the in recent years, according to a 2022 report, “Disrupting Harm in Cambodia”.
The report was issued by the Cambodia National Council for Children, which collaborated with UNICEF Cambodia and other partners to produce it.
The report explained that this meant an estimated 160,000 children were blackmailed into sexual activities, including having sexual images shared without their consent, or facing other online abuse.
According to the same report, sixteen per cent of children had received sexual comments that made them uncomfortable, with almost one third of them saying it happened on social media. Many of them received sexual images they didn’t want to see, while nine percent felt they were pressured to share sexual pictures of themselves.
The report also found that boys were targeted more than girls with abusive requests, threats, and online blackmail attempts.
