As many as 20 million children aged 12 to 17 across 21 countries experienced online sexual abuse or exploitation each year during the periods studied, according to UNICEF findings released Thursday. More than one in five internet-using children in the surveyed countries were targeted on digital platforms.
The research found that social media facilitated more than half of the abuse cases, while less than 1 percent of incidents were reported to police, social workers or helplines. UNICEF cautioned that underreporting may mean the figures are inaccurate.
How the research was conducted
Researchers surveyed about 21,000 internet-using children aged 12 to 17 in 21 countries. Data was collected between 2020 and 2021 and again between 2024 and 2025, alongside in-depth interviews with 100 young people who had experienced childhood abuse.
The countries covered Eastern and South Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and South Asia. They were Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Armenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Pakistan.
Key figures
- More than 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content.
- Nine million were asked to join sexual conversations or share sexual images against their will.
- Four million had sexual images of themselves shared without consent.
- More than four in 10 cases were not disclosed to anyone.
Where abuse occurs and why it stays hidden
UNICEF said abuse can begin in public places such as schools or neighbourhoods before moving online. Social media and messaging services can enable initial contact, relationship-building, sexual solicitation, image-sharing, coercion, blackmail and the continued circulation of sexual content.
Among cases identified in the report, more than 60 percent occurred on social media platforms. The platforms most frequently identified were Facebook at 50 percent, WhatsApp at 29 percent, Instagram at 24 percent, Snapchat at 13 percent and TikTok at 12 percent.
UNICEF said children may not recognise abuse, may not know where to report it or may fear repercussions. Gender expectations can also silence children: girls may face stigma and blame, while boys may be expected to cope alone or may be threatened by perpetrators.
The reported effects and proposed response
UNICEF reported that children exposed to technology-facilitated sexual abuse and exploitation were four times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and to self-harm, and also had higher levels of anxiety. In Mexico and North Macedonia, the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviours was more than eight times higher; in Pakistan, the risk of self-harm was more than seven times higher than average.
UNICEF said governments and technology companies should carry responsibility for protecting children by changing how online spaces are designed and regulated. It also called for schools, families and wider society to reduce the burden placed on children to protect themselves.
Meta said the data included surveys dating to 2020, before it introduced measures such as default private accounts for teenagers and restrictions on adults messaging unconnected teens. Snapchat and TikTok had not responded to requests for comment.
No comments yet. Start the discussion.