UNICEF: 1 in 5 children across 21 countries experienced tech-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse

A new UNICEF report released Wednesday found that an estimated 20 million children aged 12 to 17, nearly one in five, experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse within a single year across 21 countries surveyed, with more than half of cases occurring on mainstream social media platforms.

The report, titled "Through Children's Eyes: How Digital Technologies Enable Child Sexual Abuse," combines survey data from roughly 21,000 internet-using children with in-depth interviews from 100 young people who experienced abuse in childhood. It found that more than 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content, 9 million were asked to engage in unwanted sexual conversations or share sexual images, and 4 million had sexual images of themselves shared without consent.

UNICEF said the true scope of the problem is likely far higher due to underreporting.

"The report reveals a painful reality," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "These experiences cause profound emotional and mental distress. Many children suffer in silence, unsure where to turn for help. We cannot look away."

According to the findings, nearly 60% of cases occurred on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp, while 14% took place in online games. The report said platform features and design were often exploited to gain children's trust. In Montenegro, more than 80% of reported cases involved social media, while in Colombia the figure exceeded half of cases.

The report found that 57% of cases involved someone the child already knew, including peers, family members or romantic partners, challenging assumptions that such abuse is primarily perpetrated by strangers. Another 38% of children first encountered their abuser online, often through fake accounts or private messaging features.

UNICEF said children who experienced tech-facilitated abuse were four times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or behaviors and self-harm, and showed significantly higher levels of anxiety. In Mexico and North Macedonia, the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors was more than eight times higher among affected children, while in Pakistan the risk of self-harm was more than seven times higher.

The report also found that more than 40% of cases were never disclosed to anyone, and fewer than 1% were reported to authorities such as police, social workers or helplines, with children most commonly citing uncertainty about where to seek help.

UNICEF called for urgent action from governments and technology companies, including making digital platforms safer by design, strengthening laws and enforcement around emerging forms of abuse such as AI-generated sexual abuse material, building trusted reporting systems, and addressing social norms that stigmatize survivors. "All of us, including governments and technology companies, must do more to protect children online," Russell said.

The research was conducted as part of the Disrupting Harm project, a joint initiative between UNICEF, ECPAT International and INTERPOL, combining survey data collected between 2020 and 2025 across countries including Cambodia, Kenya, the Philippines, Brazil, Mexico and Pakistan, among others.