One in Four Children Face Sexual Abuse Risks Online, New Research Warns
Photo Source: Staying Safe on the Internet: A Guide for Kids and Parents in the Digital Age
A major new study by Scottish researchers has revealed the alarming scale of online sexual exploitation affecting children across the world, with one in four children expected to experience unwanted or pressured sexual interactions before they turn 18.
The research, published by the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute at the University of Edinburgh, estimates that around 27 per cent of children face what experts call “online solicitation”. This includes grooming, unwanted sexual conversations, requests for intimate images, and pressure to engage in sexual activity through mobile phones, social media, gaming platforms and the internet.
Researchers found that girls are more likely to be affected than boys. Nearly 39 per cent of girls experience these forms of abuse before adulthood, compared with 19 per cent of boys. In the last year alone, almost seven per cent of children worldwide were affected.
The report also found that nearly one in ten children face sexual extortion online. This happens when offenders threaten to share private photos or videos unless children comply with demands for money, more images, or other forms of exploitation.
Another disturbing finding was the discovery of more than 1,500 cases involving so-called “paedophile manuals” in 61 countries. These materials guide how offenders can abuse children, access child sexual abuse material and avoid detection by authorities.
Launching the report at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Childlight described child sexual abuse as a global public health emergency that demands urgent action.
Professor Debi Fry, (pictured) Childlight’s Global Director of Data, said the impact of abuse can last a lifetime.
“The harms of childhood sexual abuse are not fleeting,” she said. “For many victims, they include trauma, anxiety, depression and self-harm that can last long into adulthood. This is a worldwide health emergency – but it is preventable.”
The report warns that advances in technology, including artificial intelligence, are creating new opportunities for offenders to exploit children. Criminal networks are increasingly profiting from child abuse material, while children are being manipulated into creating images of themselves before being blackmailed.
Childlight is calling on governments to strengthen laws, close legal loopholes around AI-generated abuse material, improve data collection, invest in reporting tools and hotlines, and place child safety at the heart of technology design.
Campaigner Rhiannon-Faye McDonald, who was abused after being groomed online at the age of 13, said the findings reflect the experiences of many survivors.
“The scale is deeply concerning, and the impacts are real and long-lasting,” she said. “Children must be recognised as victims so they can receive the support and protection they need.”
Experts say parents, schools, health professionals and technology companies all have a role to play in protecting children online. Open conversations, early support and better safeguards could help prevent thousands of children from becoming victims.
As children’s lives become increasingly connected to the digital world, the report serves as a stark reminder that online safety must remain a global priority.
