It's not necessarily difficult to spot sex offenders online, according to new research focusing on the online habits of sex offenders and students.

Two-thirds of men convicted of an online or in-person sex offense bring up the subject of sex in their first online conversations with minors and young adults, the study claims.

The study of social networking habits was published in the July issue of the American Journal of Nursing.

In a released statement, a Villanova University professor who worked on the study said that there continues to be dramatic growth in the use of social media websites such as Facebook among all age groups, making it easier than ever for people to exchange sexual information.

The research team analyzed answers to questionnaires given to 404 middle school students (nine to 15 years old), 2,077 high school students (15 to 18 years old) and 1,284 college students. They also got answers from 466 men who have been convicted of an online-related sex offense or an in-person sex offense or a prior internet-related offense (113 were internet offenders; 353 were non-internet offenders). The internet offenders were comprised of two groups: those who had possessed or transmitted child pornography and those who had solicited a minor.

What researchers found is that more than half of online sex offenders say they hide their identities while using the internet.

The study also states that a majority of offenders preferring chatting online with teenage girls rather than boys.

The study also shows that a small percentage of students by anyone they've met online, whether someone who has been convicted of a sexual offense or anyone else.

The overwhelming majority of sexual encounters initiated online were reported to involve consensual sex.

Obviously, anyone charged with an online sex offense faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted, which is why it's so important to talk to legal counsel before discussing any charges with law enforcement or prosecutors.

Source: USA Today: "Study: 2 in 3 offenders bring up sex in 1st chat with teens" by Robert Preidt: July 1, 2011