ISLAMABAD – Nearly 20 million children aged 12 to 17 across 21 countries experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year, according to a new UNICEF report.
The report found that more than 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content, while around nine million were pressured into sexual conversations or sharing sexual images.
Nearly four million children had sexual images shared without their consent, highlighting the growing risks posed by the misuse of digital platforms.
Social media accounted for nearly 60 per cent of reported cases, while 14 per cent occurred in online games, according to the report.
The findings also challenge the perception that online sexual abuse is primarily perpetrated by strangers. In 57 per cent of cases, the perpetrator was someone the child already knew.
A significant proportion of victims remained silent. More than 40 per cent of cases were never disclosed, while less than one per cent were reported to the authorities, underscoring the barriers children face in seeking help and protection. The report further found that children who experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse were four times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or behaviours and self-harm. The risks were particularly high in some countries, including Pakistan.
UNICEF has called on governments and technology companies to make digital platforms safer, strengthen legislation and reporting mechanisms, improve child-protection services and ensure that children receive appropriate support when they report abuse.
The report warns that technology is increasingly being exploited to facilitate sexual abuse of children, while many victims continue to suffer in silence because they do not know where to seek help or fear the consequences of reporting.
It calls for stronger safeguards across digital platforms and more effective mechanisms to identify, report and respond to online sexual exploitation and abuse, while ensuring that children can use technology safely.
