How Digital Technologies Enable Child Sexual Abuse
A UNICEF report based on survey data in 21 countries and children's testimonies points to an urgent need for action by governments, technology companies and others to better protect children in the digital age.
An estimated 20 million — or 1 in 5 — children aged 12-17 across 21 countries were subjected to digital tech-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a single year, according to a UNICEF report based on research from the Safe Online-funded Disrupting Harm project.
"Through Children's Eyes: How Digital Technologies Enable Child Sexual Abuse," released on Sept. 3, 2026, combines children’s testimonies that reflect real, lived experiences — and include first-hand descriptions of abuse — with one of the largest bodies of survey data assembled on the subject.
Most statistics presented in the report are based on nationally representative survey data collected between 2020 and 2025 from approximately 21,000 internet-using children aged 12–17, living in the 21 countries. There were two rounds of research: the first was conducted in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, the Philippines, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda and Vietnam in 2020-2021; the second was conducted in Armenia, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Pakistan and Serbia in 2024-2025.
Some key findings:
- Based on survey data, researchers estimate that in a single year, 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content; 9 million were asked to engage in sexual conversations or share sexual images against their will; and 4 million had sexual images of themselves shared without their consent. Separately, an estimated 1.1 million children across nine countries surveyed in the project’s second round* reported being depicted in AI-generated sexual images or videos.
- Since many children never disclose their experiences, the true number of cases is likely higher. More than 4 in 10 cases were disclosed to no one, and fewer than 1 percent were reported to the police, a social worker or a helpline. In an estimated 25 percent of cases, the child stayed silent simply because they didn't know where to go or who to tell.
- Nearly 60 percent of cases took place on mainstream social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp, while 14 percent of cases happened in online games, with platform features, functions and design enabling trust to be exploited.
- An estimated 57 percent of cases involved someone the child already know, such as a peer, romantic partner, friend or family member; in 38 percent of cases, children first met the perpetrator online, with contact initiated and/or facilitated by features like fake accounts, anonymous profiles and private messaging.
- The research indicated that tech-facilitated exploitation and abuse was strongly associated with poorer emotional well-being. Children subjected to this abuse were four times more likely to report suicidal thoughts and behaviors and four times more likely to report self-harm. They also reported anxiety levels approximately 11 percentage points higher than their peers.
"Children often respond with remarkable resourcefulness – blocking perpetrators, avoiding certain online spaces and protecting each other – but their resilience is not a substitute for effective protection," the report states. "That they must cope [with] so much alone is itself evidence of societies and systems failing them. Children should not have to fight so hard to be safe and supported."
Read the report, "Through Children's Eyes: How Digital Technologies Enable Child Sexual Abuse"
UNICEF's call to action to address widespread tech-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse
The report's findings point to an urgent need for action by governments, technology companies and others to better protect children in the digital age. The report calls for stronger safeguards, regulation and accountability to keep children safe.
Stronger action is needed from both governments and technology companies, the report concludes. Governments must strengthen laws, regulation and accountability to address emerging forms of abuse, including sexual extortion and AI-generated sexual abuse material, while investing in child protection and support services that children can trust. Technology companies must also make platforms safer by design, with stronger privacy protections, safer product features, and better systems to detect and report abuse.
How UNICEF works to protect children
UNICEF works with governments and other partners worldwide to ensure children are protected from violence, exploitation and abuse, with a strong focus on strengthening systems for prevention and response, including working to ensure children can access trusted reporting mechanisms and support services when abuse occurs. UNICEF also advocates for stronger laws and policies to protect every child's right to safety.
Learn more about UNICEF's child protection programs
From UNICEF USA's Parenting Resources hub:
How to Talk to Kids About Staying Safe Online
How to Protect Your Child's Privacy Online
8 Strategies to Keep Your Child Safe — Online and Off
How to Keep Your Child Safe from Violence, Exploitation and Abuse
Protecting Your Child From Cyberbullying