A study funded by the Australian Institute of Criminology explored how adolescents perceive online warning messages designed to address problematic online behaviours such as the viewing or sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), image-based abuse (IBA), cyberbullying and sexual extortion. The research aimed to assess the perceived effectiveness of these messages in deterring harmful behaviour and encouraging help-seeking or prosocial action among adolescents in the roles of victims, bystanders, and offenders.
Methodology
A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 298 adolescents aged 16–18 from an Australian secondary college. Participants were presented with vignettes depicting realistic online scenarios involving CSAM and related behaviours. Each vignette targeted a specific role—victim, bystander, or offender—and was accompanied by both image-based and text-only warning messages. Participants rated the messages on four dimensions: attention capture, encouragement to seek help or reflect on behaviour, likelihood of clicking a support link, and preference for image versus text-only formats. Qualitative feedback was also collected to understand how messages could be improved.
Findings
Overall, adolescents responded positively to the warning messages. Most participants agreed that the messages would attract attention and prompt reflection or help-seeking, with over 70-55% agreement across all harm categories, with 8-20% disagreement. However, engagement varied by role:
- Victims: Messages aimed at victims were perceived as the most effective. Participants believed these messages would not only capture attention but also encourage victims to seek help and click on support links. This is significant given the known barriers adolescents face in help-seeking, such as stigma, shame, and fear of not being believed.
- Bystanders: Messages targeting bystanders were also found to be effective in raising awareness and prompting reflection. However, participants were less confident that bystanders would take further action, such as clicking on support links. Female participants were more likely than males to believe that bystanders would engage with the support resources, reflecting broader gender trends in help-seeking behaviour.
- Offenders: Messages directed at offenders or potential offenders were perceived as less effective, particularly in prompting engagement with support links. While participants felt these messages could raise awareness and encourage reflection, they were sceptical about whether offenders would act on them. Some participants suggested that stronger, more punitive messaging might be necessary to influence this group.
The findings are currently under peer review and are expected to be published in 2025, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of these results.
Message Format Preferences
Preferences for image-based versus text-only messages were mixed. While some participants found images more engaging and emotionally resonant, others preferred the clarity and professionalism of text-only messages. This suggests that a varied approach—alternating between formats—may be most effective in reaching a diverse adolescent audience.
Conclusion
The study highlights the potential of online warning messages as a scalable, cost-effective tool for promoting safer online environments for young people. Messages were generally well-received, especially those aimed at victims. While challenges remain in engaging offenders and motivating bystander action, the findings support the use of tailored, evidence-based messaging to address adolescent online safety.