UNICEF estimates 20 million children suffered online sexual abuse in one year
GENEVA: About 20 million internet-using children across 21 countries were subjected to sexual exploitation or abuse on digital platforms in a single year, with most cases occurring on social media, according to a new report by Unicef.
Geneva - Approximately 20 million children who use the internet in 21 countries experienced sexual exploitation or abuse on digital platforms in a single year, according to a recent Unicef report. Most cases occurred on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, with roughly 15 million children exposed to unwanted sexual content, 9 million pressured into sexual conversations or sharing sexual images, and 4 million having sexual images shared without consent.
The report, based on national surveys of around 21,000 children aged 12 to 17 in 2020-2025, estimates the actual number of victims to exceed tens of millions globally. Almost 60% of abuse occurred on social media, while 14% took place in online gaming. Meta, the company behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, acknowledged the survey began in 2020 and said it plans to enhance teen safety, including defaulting teens to private accounts and blocking adults from messaging teens they are not connected to.
Snapchat and TikTok also highlighted their efforts to combat online sexual exploitation. However, fewer than 1% of cases involving children were reported to authorities, indicating a need for improved child protection and reporting systems.
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