Virtual child sexual abuse material depicts fictitious children – but can be used to disguise real abuse
- Written by Larissa Christensen, Senior Lecturer in Criminology & Justice | Co-leader of the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit (SVRPU), University of the Sunshine Coast

Child sexual abuse material (previously known as child pornography) can be a confronting and uncomfortable topic.
Child sexual abuse material specifically refers to the possession, viewing, sharing, and creation of images or videos containing sexual or offensive material involving children.
But less publicised is another form of child sexual abuse...