Child sexual abuse is a disturbing issue that affects countless children worldwide. The World Health Organization defines child sexual abuse (CSA) as "involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend and is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared, or else that violate the laws or social taboos of society."
Prevention efforts over the past 25 years have not worked to protect children. Back in 1998, I reported the following statistics for my dissertation research: "It is estimated that one of every three girls and one of every six to ten boys are sexually victimized at least once during childhood" (Finkelhor, 1986). Today, reports indicate that one in three girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18 (National Sexual Violence Resource Center). According to a new study, 16% of American children (under 18) have experienced at least one type of sexual abuse online (Finkelhor et al., 2022). Every nine minutes, child protective services substantiate a claim for child sexual abuse (RAINN). Yet, the available numbers underestimate the true prevalence, with as many as 30% of cases unreported (CSA Prevention and Protection Center).
In the Peacock television series Quiet on Set, Nickelodeon actors from the 1990s reveal ongoing sexual abuse by........