About 20 million children who use the internet across 21 countries were subjected to sexual exploitation or abuse online within a single year, according to a new report by UNICEF.
The report found that more than one in five children aged 12 to 17 surveyed across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe had experienced at least one form of online sexual abuse or exploitation.
Around 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content, while about 9 million were pressured into sexual conversations or sharing sexual images. Another 4 million had sexual images shared without their consent.
UNICEF said the true global number of affected children is likely to reach many tens of millions.
The study, described by UNICEF as one of the largest of its kind, examined nationally representative surveys conducted between 2020 and 2025 involving approximately 21,000 internet-using children in 21 countries, including Kenya, Pakistan, Brazil and Serbia.
Social Media Accounts for Most Cases
Nearly 60% of reported cases occurred on social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Online gaming platforms accounted for about 14% of cases.
UNICEF also found that more than half of the perpetrators were people the children already knew, including friends, relatives or romantic partners. About 38% of children said they first encountered the perpetrator online.
Despite the scale of the problem, fewer than 1% of cases were reported to police, social workers or helplines.
Growing Concern Over AI-Generated Abuse
The report also highlighted the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence. In nine countries where relevant data was collected, an estimated 1.1 million children said AI-generated sexual images or videos had been created depicting them.
Children who experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation were about four times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or self-harm and also reported significantly higher levels of anxiety than their peers.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said online sexual abuse can cause severe emotional and psychological distress, with many children suffering in silence and unsure where to seek help.
UNICEF is calling on governments and technology companies to strengthen child-safety measures, update laws to address emerging forms of abuse such as AI-generated sexual content, and improve reporting and child-protection systems.
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