# Evolution of digital grooming and sexual violence

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/evolution-of-digital-grooming-and-sexual-violence
> Updated: 2026-09-09T17:05:13.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Research and expert analysis indicate that online grooming and digital sexual violence are evolving through new technological methods and psychological tactics.

A study by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) found that predators often escalate pressure by requesting intimate content within the first five turns of a conversation, frequently using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake identities. These offenders are increasingly moving from traditional social media to multiplayer gaming platforms and direct messaging apps.

Experts, including psychologist Sonia Almada and Florencia Córdoba of Rama Activa, emphasize the need for societal awareness to identify these behaviors. Córdoba warned that victims often inadvertently destroy evidence necessary for criminal prosecution by immediately blocking aggressors and deleting content.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: Digital sexual violence: Experts warn of evolving grooming and online manipulation

Experts warn of evolving digital sexual violence, including grooming and sextortion, emphasizing the need to preserve digital evidence rather than simply blocking aggressors.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/digital-sexual-violence-experts-warn-of-evolving-grooming-and-online-manipulation

### 2026-09-03: Online grooming tactics evolve with rapid requests and AI

Research shows online predators often request intimate content within minutes of starting a chat, increasingly using AI and gaming platforms to manipulate minors through sophisticated psychological tactics.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/online-grooming-tactics-evolve-with-rapid-requests-and-ai

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Cite as: Evolution of digital grooming and sexual violence. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/evolution-of-digital-grooming-and-sexual-violence