Bayanihan.org reports:

Internet misuse worldwide is helping strip children of their right to a dignified existence, University of North Carolina professor and developmental pediatrics expert Dr. Sharon Cooper has said.

“Over nine million images of child pornography are on the Internet and about six percent of these are of infants and toddlers,” she said Monday during a presentation at the 7th Asian regional conference of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.

She noted child abuse perpetrators, […], are taking advantage of the Internet’s worldwide coverage so they can reach out to more ‘customers’ willing to pay for such video material.

Exploitation heaps physical and psycho-social damage on the victims particularly among older children who suffer from guilt and self-blame, she continued.

To help curb child exploitation, Cooper is urging parents to monitor their youngsters’ Internet use.She noted such vigilance is needed as predators may go on-line to contact children, befriend them, develop their interest in sex and even initiate off-line sexual relations with them.