Lorenzo-Dus, Nuria, Perkins, Keighley  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4860-6469 and Themelidis, Leonie
2026.
‘Trade?’ – The discourse of online sexual harmful exchanges between children.
Journal of Pragmatics
260
, pp. 159-172.
10.1016/j.pragma.2026.05.002
|
Preview |
PDF
- Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
This study provides the first examination of the language practices underpinning online sexual harmful exchanges (OSHE) between children, focusing on interactions involving child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM). While research on OSHE has grown, its communicative dimension remains underexplored, despite language being central to these exchanges. Drawing on a corpus of 227 textual fragments embedded within 28,000 words of chat logs shared by UK law enforcement, we apply a pragmatics-based framework combining speech act theory and facework analysis. Our findings reveal two dominant discursive behaviours: (i) discussing CSEAM content and (ii) transmitting CSEAM. Discussion sequences were characterised by pervasive othering of depicted children, realised through homogenisation, pejoration, and sexualised evaluations. Transmission sequences frequently employed directive speech acts, often framed as low-imposition requests using conventionalised indirectness, alongside face-saving strategies aimed at reinforcing in-group cohesion. These patterns suggest a troubling normalisation of cybersexual violence within peer-to-peer exchanges. We argue that understanding the linguistic mechanisms sustaining OSHE between children is critical for developing prevention resources and counter-narratives. The study also highlights ethical and methodological challenges in researching sensitive digital interactions.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Journalism, Media and Culture |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 0378-2166 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 12 August 2026 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 4 May 2026 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Aug 2026 08:30 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188850 |
Actions (repository staff only)
 |
Edit Item |
Altmetric
Altmetric