Deterring Searches for Child Sexual Abuse Material on Google Search and Promoting Help-Seeking

Google Search deploys a "Onebox" feature at the top of the results page when users conduct searches for Child Sexual Abuse Material. This study evaluates the impact of a strategic shift in this feature, comparing a revised intervention, focused on repercussions and therapeutic resources, to a previous iteration that focused on reporting. Using a difference-in-differences analysis of internal Google Search logs data, we found the new messaging resulted in a 3.8 percentage point reduction as compared to the status quo in subsequent CSAM-related queries within the same Search session. We found an average click through rate of 0.73% on any of the hyperlinked buttons to help-providing resources. Together, this research presents convergent evidence that a subset of individuals can be deterred from ongoing CSAM-seeking and redirected to therapeutic services.