More juveniles falling victim to online predators, experts say

Last year, the Girls' Protection Program surveyed more than 16,000 parents nationwide, with only 42 percent of respondents saying they would keep a strict eye on the internet content accessed by their children. Twenty-five percent said that from time to time they remind their children about "positive use" of the internet.

Only about 40 percent of respondents said they could determine from their children's comments and behavior whether they had encountered sexual molestation, according to the survey results, which were published in March.

Some experts said that in such cases, updated theoretical and technical support should be provided to assess the harm to young victims.

Zhao Junfu, a criminal cases judge at the Supreme People's Court, said, "We should pay more attention to changes in the mental state of underage victims, and even symptoms of withdrawing into themselves and depression in addition to physical injury they encounter during sexual molestation."

He said professional psychological services should provide technical assistance to assess the social harm caused by such crimes, and sentencing should reflect not only the physical but the psychological impact on the victims.

Lin Zi, a psychologist reviewing a sex education manual for minors launched by the China Children and Teenagers' Fund, said that compared with physical harm resulting from sexual assault, psychological harm is usually more "latent and lasting".

"Extreme fear, anxiety, distrust of the outside world and even parents, self-blame and a sense of inferiority may make some victims hostile or hold back for a long time, and may lead to a serious change in their character," said Lin, vice-chairwoman of the Shanghai Psychological Counseling Association and founder of a psychological consultancy.

One case during her more than two decades' of work experience involved a woman in her 30s who sought professional help. She had been the victim of sexual assault committed by a cousin during puberty, resulting in a strong sense of self-loathing. She later found she could not approach males and could not forge a loving relationship with a man.

Such victims' parents also need professional psychological support, Lin said.