The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) disclosed on Thursday that an estimated 20 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 have been subjected to sexual exploitation by perpetrators using digital tools, including social media applications. The figure represents roughly 20 percent of the youth population surveyed in a sample of 21 countries, according to the agency’s latest report.

The analysis, compiled from data collected across the participating nations, highlights the growing role of internet‑based channels in enabling abusive conduct. Perpetrators are reported to exploit the anonymity and reach of online services to contact, groom, and coerce minors into sexual activities, often leveraging platforms that are widely used by teenagers for communication and entertainment.

UNICEF’s findings underscore a pattern of vulnerability that cuts across diverse geographic and socioeconomic contexts. While the report does not break down the data by individual country, the aggregate proportion suggests that the problem is not confined to any single region but is a widespread challenge confronting the global child protection landscape.

In response to the alarming prevalence, UNICEF calls for coordinated action among governments, technology firms, civil‑society organisations, and families. The agency stresses the need for stronger legal frameworks, enhanced digital‑literacy programmes for young people, and robust mechanisms for reporting and responding to online abuse. It also urges online platforms to improve safety features, enforce age‑verification protocols, and swiftly remove content that facilitates exploitation.

The release of the study arrives amid growing international attention to the misuse of digital environments for criminal activity against children. UNICEF’s data provides a quantitative baseline for policymakers and advocates seeking to design targeted interventions and monitor progress in reducing technology‑facilitated sexual abuse worldwide.

Reporting attribution: based on reporting by UN News — Global — original source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2026/09/1168236.