“We gave her a loaded gun”: Parents perspective on Online Child Sexual Abuse

The aim of this qualitative small-scale study was to gain more in-depth knowledge about Online Child Sexual Abuse (OSCA) in Norway from parent’s perspective. 15 participants from nine families with offended children recruited by and from different Children's Houses in Norway participated in nine qualitative semi-structured interviews. Reflexive Thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2021; 2019b) was chosen as the Method for analysing material. Areas of literature that are relevant to my research, concerning parents mediating style and has been reviewed. The findings show how parents perceive young and particularly vulnerable children as easy prey for OSCA. The families experience that a crisis arises in the family and there is a lot that is difficult to talk about and that creates secrecy in the family system. Parents find that the digital parental role is very difficult to balance and that despite measures to keep the young person safe online, parents experience powerlessness. In the discussion, emphasis is placed on how the digital arena and structures outside the family system are what affect the family's dynamics the most. This research shows that OSCA is a serious problem, and families are carrying the burden of a responsibility that should lay on the shoulders of policymakers, judiciary and the big tech companies. This research also shows that parents of vulnerable children and adolescents need interdisciplinary support and follow-up after OSCA has been identified.