Houkuttelu (grooming-sivun hero) ENG

Grooming

Enticement of a child or a young person for sexual purposes is called grooming

In grooming the aim of an adult is to entice a child into a situation that enables sexual violence online, outside the net or in both environments. Grooming is often associated with building a relationship in order to commit the crimes.

A young cartoon character taking a selfie without a shirt.

Grooming redflags (tietoa rikoksista) ENG

Grooming redflags 

Indicators of grooming

The perpetrators are often skilled and they can:

  • Find out what kind of a person the victim is in advance
  • Pretend to be a child or a young person even though they are actually an adult
  • Find out about your hobbies and interests and write about them
  • Ask you to keep the conversation a secret
  • Send a lot of messages
  • Start sending sexual messages or pictures
  • Ask you to share personal information
  • Blackmail or threaten

Testaa tietosi: Mitä on "grooming"? ENG

Test your knowledge: What is grooming?

Grooming always happens online?

FALSE

Grooming means the enticement of a child or a young person for sexual purposes. It does often happen online but it can also happen face-to-face for example by offering alcohol or other commodities to build a confidential relationship and to get in the company of the victim.  

Enticement of a child for sexual purposes is a crime in Finland.

TRUE

Enticement of a person under the age of 18 for sexual purposes is a punishable offence in Finland. Enticement can be communication with sexual undertone, asking for or sending naked pictures or in some cases proposing a meeting. The hallmarks of crime are met quickly if an adult is in contact with a minor for sexual purposes.

I have been writing to the same person for a long time. The person has similar hobbies and she has sent me pictures that prove that she is a girl same age as me. This cannot be grooming.

FALSE

Unfortunately, grooming is sometimes associated with a grown up pretending to be a child or a young person. The perpetrator aims to build a confidential relationship and might have found out about the hobbies or interests of a child or a young person. Grooming does not always involve someone pretending to be another person but it is common.

A young person can blame themselves if they get involved in messaging. According to the law this is seen as an extenuating circumstance.

FALSE

A grown up is always the one to blame if child becomes a victim of sexual enticement or sexual violence. A child or a young person is never to blame for what has happened even if they would have themselves taken part in communication, accepted a car ride or in other ways taken part in the situation. The behaviour of the victim does not affect the seriousness of the offence in the eyes of the law.

I am a minor and an unknown adult in social media promised to give me a ride to town. The person did not demand any sexual favours. This in not grooming.

FALSE

It cannot be said at a 100% certainty if this is grooming but if an unknown adult wants to spend time with a minor the situation should be considered with reservations.

I am a minor. An adult contacted me on social media and asked me to send nudes. This is grooming and a punishable offence. 

TRUE

When an adult asks for or sends sexual pictures it is considered enticement of a child for sexual purposes and is therefore a punishable offence. 

I am a minor and I accidently send a nude picture of myself to an adult I know because they asked for it. I send the picture willingly so the adult is not criminally responsible.

FALSE

When an adult asks for or even suggest that they would like to receive sexual pictures of a minor it is a punishable offence.  Anyone can become a victim of a sexual harassment and it is never the victim's fault when if the perpetrator is someone you know or the picture was sent willingly. 

Have you experienced grooming online or do you know a friend who has experienced grooming?

 

If you answered yes or are hesitant, ask for help!

If an adult has ever been in contact with you in a sexual way talk about it immediately.

You can talk about it by contacting a safe adult or the following services: