 Prior to 2009, the term commonly used to describe child sexual exploitation was "child prostitution".The term "child sexual exploitation" first appeared in government guidance in 2009 as part of an attempt to promote an understanding that children involved in exploitation were victims of abuse rather than criminals.Because early definitions of child sexual exploitation were created to foster a move away from use of the term "child prostitution", the concept of exchange, which made child sexual exploitation different from child sexual abuse, referred to financial gain only.