Internet-using children are victims of sexual exploitation and abuse

According to a report released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), approximately 20 million children using the internet in 21 countries have experienced sexual exploitation or abuse on digital platforms in the past year, with the majority occurring on social media, Reuters reported. The UNICEF report estimates that more than one in five children aged 12 to 17 living in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe have experienced at least one form of sexual abuse or exploitation on online platforms. The report states that in the surveyed countries, approximately 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content, 9 million were pressured to engage in sexual conversations or share sexual photos, and 4 million had their sexual photos shared without their consent. Nearly 60 percent of reported abuse occurred on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, while 14 percent occurred in online games.