Protecting children online
EDITORIAL: The findings of UNICEF report on the scale of online sexual exploitation and abuse of children should serve as an urgent alert to governments, technology companies, parents and society at large. Based on nationally representative surveys conducted between 2020 and 2025 among around 21,000 internet-using children in 21 countries, including Pakistan, Kenya, Brazil and Serbia, the report…
UNICEF's latest report highlights the alarming scale of online sexual exploitation and abuse of children, demanding urgent action from governments, tech companies, parents, and society as a whole. The study, which surveyed nearly 21,000 internet-using children across 21 countries including Pakistan, Kenya, Brazil, and Serbia, found that around 20 million children experienced some form of online sexual abuse in 2025 alone.
This represents a growing crisis that transcends borders and leverages the expansive reach of digital technology.
Social media emerged as a particularly concerning platform for such crimes, with nearly 60% of reported cases happening on sites like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Online gaming also played a significant role in these cases. While the internet is an integral part of children's lives, the anonymity and vast reach of these platforms can enable offenders to target vulnerable young people with unprecedented ease.
The issue is further exacerbated by the fact that over half of the cases involved a known individual to the child, indicating that threats do not only originate from anonymous online predators. A particularly distressing aspect of the report is the low reporting rate, with fewer than one percent of cases reported to authorities. Children often remain silent due to shame, fear, social stigma, or uncertainty about where to seek help.
To address this, governments must establish accessible, confidential, and child-friendly reporting mechanisms. Schools should also play a vital role by educating children on safe technology use, recognizing manipulation, coercion, and online grooming. Tech companies, meanwhile, must prioritize age-appropriate design, robust age verification, rapid reporting and response systems, stronger moderation, and proactive detection of exploitation. Independent audits should assess the effectiveness of these measures.
The rise of artificial intelligence compounds the problem, as UNICEF estimates that around 1.1 million children in nine countries had AI-generated sexual images or videos created without their consent. This makes traditional child protection methods less effective, as children can now be victimized without even an actual photograph being taken. The psychological impact on these children is grave, with many reporting suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and anxiety.
Protecting children online cannot be a mere afterthought or an optional feature of the digital economy. It is a fundamental public safety obligation. Governments need to strengthen laws and enforcement, while schools and parents must enhance digital awareness. Tech companies must recognize child safety as their responsibility, not just a PR exercise. Ultimately, keeping children away from technology is neither practical nor desirable. The focus should be on making the digital environment safe for all.
Written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
