Young Adult Perceptions of Internet Communications and the Grooming Concept
Research of young people shows a lack of understanding of the term grooming in online communications and that internet risks are taken because internet literacy is poor for this group. However, limited research has investigated the perceptions of young adults in this context. The aim of this study w...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2020-03-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020914573 |
| _version_ | 1819110164749352960 |
|---|---|
| author | Amy C. Wood Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft |
| author_facet | Amy C. Wood Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft |
| author_sort | Amy C. Wood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research of young people shows a lack of understanding of the term grooming in online communications and that internet risks are taken because internet literacy is poor for this group. However, limited research has investigated the perceptions of young adults in this context. The aim of this study was to understand young adults’ perceptions of risk, their internet behaviors, and understanding of the grooming concept. Furthermore, to understand the types of risk behaviors young people engage in online, whether they perceive these behaviors as risky, and what implications this has for vulnerability to negative experiences. An examination of internet communication perceptions and the grooming concept focused on 10 young males and females aged between 18 and 23 years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at open access youth organizations in the North West of England, UK, and the duration of each interview was approximately 30 min. The data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Emergent themes were (a) grooming as a concept, (b) virtual lives, and (c) perception of risk. The findings concur there is limited understanding of the term grooming but that explanations may not be simply confined to literacy. Risks being taken online were not always perceived as risky. Recommendations include the need for a more nuanced definition of the term grooming and that more information is available to children and caregivers. Further work should focus on younger participants’ perceptions of grooming to address wider issues, together with a focus on risk taking behaviors among other vulnerable groups. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:37:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c5425d211c1425b95591b8054d49081 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-2440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:37:22Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c5425d211c1425b95591b8054d490812022-12-21T18:40:21ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402020-03-011010.1177/2158244020914573Young Adult Perceptions of Internet Communications and the Grooming ConceptAmy C. Wood0Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft1University of Liverpool, UKUniversity of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UKResearch of young people shows a lack of understanding of the term grooming in online communications and that internet risks are taken because internet literacy is poor for this group. However, limited research has investigated the perceptions of young adults in this context. The aim of this study was to understand young adults’ perceptions of risk, their internet behaviors, and understanding of the grooming concept. Furthermore, to understand the types of risk behaviors young people engage in online, whether they perceive these behaviors as risky, and what implications this has for vulnerability to negative experiences. An examination of internet communication perceptions and the grooming concept focused on 10 young males and females aged between 18 and 23 years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at open access youth organizations in the North West of England, UK, and the duration of each interview was approximately 30 min. The data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Emergent themes were (a) grooming as a concept, (b) virtual lives, and (c) perception of risk. The findings concur there is limited understanding of the term grooming but that explanations may not be simply confined to literacy. Risks being taken online were not always perceived as risky. Recommendations include the need for a more nuanced definition of the term grooming and that more information is available to children and caregivers. Further work should focus on younger participants’ perceptions of grooming to address wider issues, together with a focus on risk taking behaviors among other vulnerable groups.https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020914573 |
| spellingShingle | Amy C. Wood Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft Young Adult Perceptions of Internet Communications and the Grooming Concept SAGE Open |
| title | Young Adult Perceptions of Internet Communications and the Grooming Concept |
| title_full | Young Adult Perceptions of Internet Communications and the Grooming Concept |
| title_fullStr | Young Adult Perceptions of Internet Communications and the Grooming Concept |
| title_full_unstemmed | Young Adult Perceptions of Internet Communications and the Grooming Concept |
| title_short | Young Adult Perceptions of Internet Communications and the Grooming Concept |
| title_sort | young adult perceptions of internet communications and the grooming concept |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020914573 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amycwood youngadultperceptionsofinternetcommunicationsandthegroomingconcept AT jacquelinemwheatcroft youngadultperceptionsofinternetcommunicationsandthegroomingconcept |