One in five children in 21 countries faces technology-facilitated sexual abuse: UNICEF

Key points

• Nearly 60 percent of cases occur on social media
• Many children do not report abuse
• UNICEF calls for safer platforms and stronger laws

More than 15 million children in this age group are exposed to unwanted sexual content, nine million children are asked to engage in sexual conversations or share sexual images against their will, and four million children share sexual images of themselves without their consent.

UNICEF said the total figure was likely much higher.

“This report reveals a sad reality,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “More than 20 million children in the countries studied are subjected to unwanted sexually explicit content or online exploitation, often in digital spaces where they learn, play and connect with friends.”

Exploited on social media

Nearly 60 percent of all exploitation cases recorded in this report occurred on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and WhatsApp, and 14 percent occurred in online games, with features on these platforms often used to exploit trust.

Evidence shows that about 38 percent of children first met their perpetrator online Harassment is often facilitated through intentional features that allow perpetrators to hide their identity.

In Montenegro, more than 80 percent of reported cases involve social media.

In 21 countries, 57 percent of exploitation cases involve perpetrators known to the childrenincluding peers, friends, and family.

Exploitation poses a risk of self-harm

In interviews with researchers, children who experienced sexual exploitation described the impact on their emotional well-being, sense of security and trust in others, including feelings of fear, shame, confusion and isolation.

“I didn’t know how to react…I felt a little surprised,” said a young woman from the Dominican Republic after her private images were circulated without her consent at the age of 14.

Children who experience technology-assisted sexual exploitation four times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or behavior and self-harm and reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, according to the analysis.

In Pakistan, the risk of self-harm is seven times higher among children who are victims of exploitation.

Not sure where to turn for help

Meanwhile, more than 40 percent of technology-facilitated abuse cases are never shared with anyone less than one percent were reported to authorities.

The most common reason is that children don’t know who to tell.

“This experience caused deep emotional and mental distress,” said UNICEF Chair Ms. Russell. “Many children suffer in silence, unsure of where to turn for help. We can’t look away.”

Stakeholders must act

“All of us, including governments and technology companies, must do more to protect children online,” said Ms.

Researchers issue a call for help to prevent abuse:

• Tech companies must provide stronger protections for children and improve their reporting systems
• The government must strengthen accountability and law enforcement mechanisms
• Society must address harmful gender norms that normalize sexualization of girls and stigmatize survivors of sexual violence