UNICEF estimates that around 20 million children who use the internet across 21 countries experienced some form of sexual exploitation or abuse on digital platforms within a single year, with most of these cases occurring on social media platforms.
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A new UNICEF report found that more than one in five children aged 12 to 17 in the surveyed countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe experienced at least one form of online sexual abuse or exploitation in the year preceding the survey.
According to the report, around 15 million children in the surveyed countries were exposed to unwanted sexual content, 9 million children were pressured into sexual conversations or sharing sexual images, while sexual images of around 4 million children were shared without their consent.
The report affirmed that the global number of children experiencing such abuses certainly reaches tens of millions.
The research, described by UNICEF as one of the largest studies of its kind, was based on nationally representative surveys conducted between 2020 and 2025, covering around 21,000 internet-using children across 21 countries, including Kenya, Pakistan, Brazil, and Serbia.
Social Media Platforms Lead in Reported Cases
The report found that around 60% of reported abuse cases occurred on social media platforms, chiefly Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, while 14% of cases occurred through online gaming.
A spokesperson for Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, said some of the surveys the report relies on date back to 2020, before the company implemented protective measures recommended by UNICEF, including automatically making teen accounts private and preventing adults from messaging teens they aren't connected with on the platform.
Meta added that it classifies WhatsApp as a private messaging app rather than a social media platform.
The company's spokesperson said that while the report doesn't provide specific evidence of abuse cases, the company will continue strongly combating child exploitation across its apps and supporting law enforcement in pursuing those responsible.
Snapchat, for its part, pointed to statements from Jacqueline Beauchere, the platform's global head of safety, who said the company works to combat online sexual extortion through proactive detection, account removal, reporting tools available to users, and safety features designed to protect the most vulnerable groups.
TikTok said it has developed a range of protective measures for minors, including restricting certain features for younger users, making accounts of those under 18 private by default, and using technology to detect behaviors that may be exploitative or predatory.
More Than Half of Cases Involved Someone the Child Knew
UNICEF's report noted that more than half of the cases involved someone the child already knew, including friends, relatives, or romantic partners, while 38% of children first encountered the abuser online.
According to the research, fewer than 1% of cases involving children were reported to police, a social worker, or a helpline.
AI Deepens Concerns
The report also highlighted growing concerns related to the use of artificial intelligence in producing fake sexual content involving children. Across nine countries with available data, an estimated 1.1 million children reported that AI-generated sexual images or videos depicting them had been created.
The research also found that children who experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation were about four times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or self-harm compared to their peers, and recorded significantly higher levels of anxiety.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement that these experiences cause deep emotional and psychological distress, and that many children suffer in silence, not knowing who to turn to for help.
UNICEF called on governments and technology companies to strengthen safety measures on digital platforms, update laws to address evolving forms of abuse, including AI-generated content, and improve child protection and abuse reporting systems.
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