Internet and new media are new tools sometimes used by people who want to sexually interact with minors. Epidemiological studies show increasing online victimization of minors (and related arrests); victims are often consenting and aware of having contact with unknown adults, but rarely talk about these experiences with significant adults (parents/ teachers). The risk of being exposed to sexual contents on the web increases with age (being greater for adolescents than younger children) and is higher for females. Effective preventive strategies should include not only normative interventions, but also educational programs, aimed at helping youngsters to gain skills in order to face the new challenges they are exposed to, according to the WHO life skills approach. Key words: Internet, sex, adolescents, epidemiology.
Keywords: Internet, sex, adolescents, epidemiology.

Simone Curti, Raffaella D'Errico, Marco Gaietta, Elena Garavelli, Massimiliano Greco, Serena Trovati, Francesca Visco, Alberto Pellai, Internet and children’s online sexual victimization: What we know, what research evidence we have, what we should do to prevent it in "MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA" 2/2010, pp. 11-24, DOI:10.3280/MAL2010-002002