UNICEF Report Finds 20 Million Children Experienced Tech-Facilitated Sexual Exploitation

An estimated 20M children aged 12 to 17 were subjected to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a single year across 21 surveyed countries. Nearly 60% of these cases occurred on mainstream social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and WhatsApp, while 14% took place in online games. Fewer than 1% of experiences were reported to authorities, with more than 40% of cases never shared with anyone at all. Data shows 57% of the incidents involved a perpetrator the child already knew, though 38% first encountered their abuser online through fake accounts or private messaging. “The report reveals a painful reality. More than 20 million children across the countries studied were subjected to unwanted explicit sexual content or exploitation online, often in the digital spaces where they learn, play, and connect with friends.” — Catherine Russell