Report: Is your child's phone unsafe? From AI to social media, UNICEF survey raises concerns..

According to a new and alarming report by UNICEF, approximately 20 million children using the internet across 21 countries have faced sexual exploitation or harassment on digital platforms within a single year. The highest number of such cases were recorded on social media platforms. What are the reasons behind this serious situation, and what dangerous role does AI play in it? Find out the details in this report...

**Major concerns regarding child safety in the online world**
While the internet has opened up new avenues for children, the risk to their online safety is also rising rapidly. A new report by UNICEF, the UN children's agency, has revealed a grim picture regarding the sexual exploitation and harassment of children online. According to the report, around 20 million internet-using children across 21 countries experienced sexual exploitation or harassment on digital platforms over the course of a year. The majority of these cases were linked to social media platforms.

**Which age groups are most affected?**
The UNICEF report includes data from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. It found that more than one in five children aged 12 to 17 experienced at least one form of online sexual exploitation or harassment in the year before the survey. In other words, more than one out of every five children was affected by such experiences. According to UNICEF, this problem is widespread across various regions and digital platforms.

**What did the survey reveal?**
The survey revealed shocking figures. It found that approximately 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content. Meanwhile, around 9 million children were pressured into engaging in sexual conversations or sharing sexual images. Sexual images of nearly 4 million children were shared without their consent. UNICEF states that if this issue is viewed on a global scale, the number of affected children could reach tens of millions.

It is worth noting that this study is based on national surveys conducted across approximately 21 countries between 2020 and 2026. Countries such as Kenya, Pakistan, Brazil, and Serbia are included in this group. In total, data concerning approximately 21,000 child internet users were incorporated into the study. UNICEF has described it as one of the largest studies of its kind.

**60% of cases involve social media**
The report also highlights that social media has become a major medium for online sexual exploitation. Approximately 60% of the reported cases occurred on social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Meanwhile, about 14% of cases were linked to online gaming. This indicates that the challenge of ensuring children's online safety is not limited to social media alone.

**Accused often known to the child**
Another concerning finding in cases of online exploitation is that, in more than half of the instances, the accused was someone the child already knew—such as a friend, relative, or romantic partner. In contrast, about 38% of cases involved children meeting the accused online for the first time. This reveals that the threat to children comes not only from strangers but also from people they know.

**How ​​many cases were reported?**
A matter of concern is that, despite the large scale of these incidents, reporting rates remained extremely low. Cases reaching the police, social workers, or helplines accounted for less than 1% of the total. This implies that a vast number of children do not come forward to seek help after facing online exploitation or harassment.

**A new threat posed by AI**
The report also raises serious concerns regarding threats associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Data from nine countries indicates that an estimated 1.1 million children reported the creation of AI-generated sexual images or videos featuring them. Amid the rapid adoption of AI tools, the misuse of children's images and identities has emerged as a new challenge.

**Serious impact on mental health**
The most significant danger is that the impact of online sexual exploitation or harassment is not confined to the digital realm. Such experiences can have a serious impact on children's mental health. According to the report, children subjected to such experiences were found to be nearly four times more likely to harbor suicidal thoughts or engage in self-harm. These children also exhibited significantly higher levels of anxiety.

Children suffer in silence: UNICEF
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated that such experiences cause profound emotional and mental distress for children. According to her, many children endure these incidents in silence because they do not know where to turn for help.

Call to governments and tech companies to enhance safety
UNICEF has urged governments and tech companies to strengthen measures for child safety on digital platforms. The agency stated that laws need to be updated to address evolving methods of online exploitation. This includes addressing new threats, such as sexually explicit content generated using AI.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.