Is social media fueling Hollywood's pedophile problem?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Corey Feldman, who has opened up in the past about being molested by multiple Hollywood bigwigs, said he believes the problem of producer pedophiles is bigger today in age of social media.
Feldman told The Hollywood Reporter, “They reach out to little kids on Twitter, they reach out to little kids on Facebook, and they say, ‘I'm a big producer and I can help you.’ With social media we have more access than ever to everybody. It's a growing problem, not a shrinking problem.”
He’s also said one of his abusers is “still prominently in the business today.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gabe Hoffman is the executive producer of “An Open Secret,” a 2015 documentary that investigated child molesters in Hollywood, and he echoed Feldman’s sentiments.
Hoffman believes sexual predators are still very much a serious problem for Hollywood.
"Young people, both boys and girls looking to work in Hollywood are at great risk from sexual predators,” he told FOX411. “As our film ‘An Open Secret’ shows, Hollywood's lack of common sense protections for children and the state of California’s lack of mandatory minimum sentences [for child molesters] are completely insane.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Psychologist Dr. Judith Zackson concurred that the Internet puts young Hollywood stars at risk.
“The Internet is becoming an increasingly dangerous place for young, vulnerable stars,” she said. “Internet profiles provide an anonymous platform for pedophiles to study their victim’s personal information and patterns to assist in their ‘grooming’ process -- pedophiles develop a relationship with their victims through enticing dialogue filled with promises that promote the young stars dream.”
Pop culture expert Cate Meighan said the Internet lets abusers reach out to victims more easily.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Back in the ‘80s it really was quite different in that these people had to wait until child stars were brought into their circle to have access to them,” she said. “Now, they have the ability to hand pick potential targets and probably at a much younger age too.”
And social media expert Deirdre Breakenridge said platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are dangerous because people form relationships very quickly online.
"In an age of social media, more abuse can occur due to our natural social tendency for instantaneous connections, gratification and higher levels of trust and sharing far too quickly in a relationship.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Feldman has been vocal in the past regarding pedophilia in Hollywood. In 2011, he said it was “the number one problem in Hollywood” claiming it to be “the big secret” plaguing the industry.