For millions of children, the internet is supposed to be a place to learn, play and connect. But a new UNICEF report has revealed how easily those same digital spaces can become environments for sexual exploitation and abuse.
UNICEF said Thursday that an estimated 20 million children aged 12 to 17 across 21 countries experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation. The figure represents roughly one in five children in the age group covered by the study.
Social media platforms accounted for nearly 60 per cent of recorded cases. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp were among the platforms identified in the analysis.
The forms of abuse varied. More than 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content, while about nine million were pressured into sexual conversations or sharing sexual images. Another four million had sexual images of themselves distributed without their consent.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell described the findings as a “painful reality”, warning that abuse is taking place in the very digital spaces children use every day.
Online gaming has also emerged as a significant avenue for exploitation, accounting for 14 per cent of recorded cases. According to UNICEF, perpetrators can exploit gaming features to establish relationships and build trust with children.
In 38 per cent of cases, children first encountered their perpetrators online. Anonymity offered by digital platforms can further make it easier for offenders to conceal their identities.
The threat does not always come from strangers. Across the countries examined, 57 per cent of perpetrators were people known to the children, including peers, friends and family members. In Montenegro, more than 80 per cent of reported cases involved social media.
The consequences can extend far beyond the initial abuse. Children interviewed for the report described feelings of fear, shame, confusion and isolation, alongside damage to their emotional wellbeing and ability to trust others.
UNICEF found that children who experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation were four times more likely to report suicidal thoughts, behaviours and self-harm. Anxiety was also significantly higher among affected children, while Pakistan recorded more than seven times the risk of self-harm.
Despite the scale of the problem, much of the abuse remains hidden. More than 40 per cent of cases were never disclosed, while fewer than one per cent were reported to authorities. UNICEF said uncertainty over whom to approach was the most common reason children remained silent.
Russell urged governments and technology companies to strengthen safeguards and make online spaces safer for children.
“Many children suffer in silence, unsure where to turn for help,” she said. “We cannot look away.”
The report ultimately presents a stark challenge: protecting children online will require more than awareness. It will demand stronger systems, safer platforms and clear avenues for children to seek help when digital spaces become dangerous.
