UNICEF has reported that nearly 20 million children across 21 countries experienced sexual abuse or exploitation on digital platforms over the past year. The report reveals that more than one in five children aged 12 to 17 reported at least one form of online sexual abuse.
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The agency noted that around 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content, 9 million were coerced into sexual chats or sharing sexual images, and 4 million said sexual images of themselves were shared without their consent. Social media platforms were identified as the primary venues for these abuses, with Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok being the most common.
UNICEF urged governments and technology companies to strengthen online safety measures, update laws to address new forms of abuse—especially those involving AI-generated images and videos—and improve child protection services and reporting systems.
