UNICEF Report Reveals One in Five Youths Exposed to Online Sexual Abuse

It is widely recognized that the internet poses significant risks for unsupervised children and young people.

Social media companies continuously refine their algorithms to maximize user engagement across all age groups. In doing so, they frequently circulate content that can be harmful and distressing to younger audiences.

Research consistently links the phenomenon of doomscrolling to an increased risk of psychological issues among youth, including suicidal ideation. Furthermore, recent video trends on platforms like TikTok pose direct threats to user safety.

In the United States, Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, recently chose to settle a lawsuit out of court. Several states had alleged that these platforms were detrimental to children’s well-being.

Under the settlement, Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion (€14.7 billion) to the involved states and to restrict teenagers’ access to its platforms to a maximum of two hours daily. Access will be entirely blocked during nighttime hours.

A recent survey by UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, highlights another persistent danger young people face in the digital realm: online sexual abuse. The study reveals that one in five individuals aged 12 to 17 experienced such threats over the past year.

Key Findings of the Report

The UNICEF report, reviewed prior to its publication, details the typical progression of these attacks.

“It often begins without warning,” the study’s authors noted. “Conversation becomes coercion, and coercion becomes entrapment.”

According to the survey, over 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content. An estimated 9 million were coerced into sexual conversations or requested to share explicit images, and approximately 4 million had their intimate images distributed without consent. However, the report’s authors caution that the actual figures are likely much higher.

“The report reveals a painful reality,” stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “These experiences cause profound emotional and mental distress. Many children suffer in silence, unsure where to turn for help.”

Frequently, perpetrators exert pressure on their victims, leading to feelings of shame that make disclosure difficult. Among those surveyed, 41% had never disclosed their assault to anyone. Others reported initially confiding in friends, siblings, or their mothers. Fewer than 1% of cases were reported to the authorities.

The common stereotype of an unknown stranger harassing youth online only accounts for 16% of cases. The majority of perpetrators—57%—are already acquainted with their victims, often being friends, family members, or romantic partners.

Additionally, 27% of respondents could not identify the individuals behind the profiles. When perpetrators are known, they include both adults and minors. In numerous instances, the abuse occurs both online and in real life.

Major social media platforms serve as the primary channels for such behavior. The UNICEF report indicates that 60% of assaults originate primarily from Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram—all owned by Meta—followed by Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Furthermore, 14% of respondents identified online gaming platforms, which typically feature direct messaging capabilities, as the site of an assault.

Data Collection Methodology

The report surveyed approximately 21,000 young people aged 12 to 17 across 21 countries who are regular internet users. Data from 12 of these countries—Ethiopia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, the Philippines, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam—was previously collected in 2020 and 2021 and analyzed in an earlier publication.

For this updated report, additional data was gathered from Armenia, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Pakistan, and Serbia. The surveys were complemented by in-depth interviews with 100 young individuals who had experienced abuse.

Similar Trends in Europe and the US

Researchers familiar with the issue are unsurprised by the magnitude of the problem.

The 2020 EU Kids Online Survey, encompassing 19 European countries, indicated that 22% of all participants had received sexually explicit messages online.

A Spanish study conducted across seven secondary schools in 2021 and 2022 found that 21% of female respondents reported experiencing occasional online sexual harassment, while 5% stated it occurred frequently. The corresponding percentages for male respondents in the same study were slightly lower.

A comparable 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that 17% of US teenagers aged 13 to 17 had received explicit images without their consent. This survey did not distinguish between sexually explicit content and other graphic material, such as depictions of violence.

Social Media Age Restrictions in Australia, the UK, and France

The UNICEF report urges governments, technology companies, and other stakeholders to enhance the protection of children and young people in the digital environment.

Key recommendations include:

• Designing more secure digital platforms with enhanced privacy protections for minors.
• Strengthening national regulations and criminal law to close existing loopholes.
• Establishing reliable reporting and support systems for young individuals.

Released shortly after Meta’s out-of-court settlement in the US, the new UNICEF report is likely to intensify the ongoing debate in various countries regarding bans on social media for young people.

In December 2025, Australia became the first country globally to implement an age restriction for social media to protect minors. The law prohibits anyone under 16 from maintaining an account on platforms such as YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, with the platforms themselves responsible for enforcing the rule.

A comparable age restriction is slated to take effect in the UK in 2027. Meanwhile, France became the first EU nation to pass a law setting a 15-year age limit for social media users. However, this legislation was subsequently blocked by the French Constitutional Council over concerns that it could infringe upon freedom of expression and privacy rights.

In June, a German commission proposed a tiered regulatory model featuring age limits, proof-of-age requirements, and strict regulations mandating the cooperation of social media platforms.

Virtual people: Why you can’t always trust what you see

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