Beware of Child Grooming: Recognize the Subtle Tactics of Sexual Predators around Children

JAKARTA - Sexual abuse of children often does not happen suddenly. There is a planned manipulation process called child grooming. This process aims to build an emotional bond so that the victim feels comfortable and confident before the perpetrator exploits them.

Clinical psychologist from the University of Indonesia, Kasandra Putranto, warns that recognizing this pattern early on is the key to protecting the family.

"The perpetrators are often very skilled in emotional manipulation and are able to build strong trust with children and adults around them," explained Kasandra as quoted by ANTARA.

Characteristics of the Perpetrator: "The Good Person"

Don't think of the perpetrator as a scary figure. Instead, grooming perpetrators often have positive-looking characteristics:

Highly Empathetic: Showing excessive attention that makes the child feel very cared for.

High Social Ability: Easy to get along with and seem sincere.

Enter the Child World: They will show great interest in children's hobbies, such as playing games, sports, or other children's favorite activities.

Smartly Hiding Intentions: Using various ways so that their actions are not detected by parents.

Who are the potential perpetrators?

The sad thing is, the perpetrators are often people who have easy access to children:

Close contacts: Family members, family friends, or neighbors.

Authority figures: teachers, sports coaches, activity leaders, even social workers or counselors.

Virtual world: Strangers who approach children through online gaming platforms, social media, or instant messaging apps.

Sebaya's friend: A teenager or child who is older than the victim

Why is Online Grooming Faster?

Kasandra explained that the duration of grooming is influenced by several factors. Online platforms often accelerate this process because of their anonymous nature and unlimited access.

In addition, children who are having emotional problems or lack social support at home tend to be more quickly affected by the manipulator.

"If the child has strong social support and is brave enough to show discomfort or reject the approach, the grooming process can stop faster," added Kasandra.