Children of online grooming offenders: secondary harms, lived impacts and service implications

Purpose Online child sexual abuse, which encompasses making and possessing explicit images of children (CSAM), online grooming (OG) with or without the intention to commit contact sexual offences and inciting children’s engagement in online sexual activities, is at a record high (Taddei, 2020). Such offences affect everyone involved, including the offenders’ families (adults and children) who typically face societal demonisation, judgement and ridicule (e.g. Rogers and Ferguson, 2011). The trauma experienced by these families has been evidenced (e.g. Armitage et al., 2023; Salter et al., 2022). This study aims to examine the impact experiences of children affected by child sexual abuse through offender association, particularly in the context of online grooming, within a field where empirical evidence remains limited. Design/methodology/approach This study used an anonymous online survey to examine the impact of online grooming on children residing with individuals suspected or convicted of online grooming offences, including stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren and siblings. The study was advertised on an online support forum for family and friends of people apprehended for online child sexual abuse offences. The survey, which included both validated outcome measures and open-ended questions was completed by 16 respondents. These included 14 proxy informants reporting their perception of children experiences (e.g. non-offending parents, guardians, grandparents, siblings), and two now adult children. Findings A thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed four master themes: child development and familial disruption; silent endurance; societal opinion-pluralistic ignorance and abnormal identity formation. The findings indicate that current policies and practices should be revised to address the well-being of these secondary victims. Originality/value This study provides novel insights into children’s experiences of online grooming and their exposure to a family member’s apprehension, an area with limited prior research. Currently, these children are not recognised as secondary victims but rather as collateral damage − an unavoidable consequence of legal proceedings. As a result, policy fails to acknowledge their distress or provide formal support, leaving them vulnerable despite the profound emotional and psychological impact. By addressing these overlooked experiences, this study fills a critical gap in existing literature.