A new UNICEF report estimates that 20 million children between the ages of 12 and 17 across 21 countries have experienced online forms of sexual exploitation.
The findings highlight how digital platforms are increasingly being misused to target adolescents. UNICEF notes that technology-facilitated abuse can include coercion, grooming, and the sharing of harmful material without consent.
The report covers a diverse group of nations and shows that no region is immune. Researchers point to factors such as increased internet access, limited digital safety education, and gaps in reporting and enforcement as contributing to the scale of the problem.
UNICEF is calling for stronger protections for children online. Key recommendations include better age-appropriate safety tools, improved reporting mechanisms, and partnerships between governments, tech companies, and civil society to identify and remove harmful content quickly.
The agency also stresses the importance of support services for survivors and prevention programs that teach digital literacy and safe online behavior. According to UNICEF, addressing the issue will require coordinated action to ensure the internet remains a safer space for young people.
UNICEF: 20 Million Adolescents in 21 Countries Affected by Online Sexual Exploitation
