Africa: Nearly 1 in 5 Children Subjected to Tech-Facilitated Sexual Abuse - Unicef

What the report says

UNICEF has warned that technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse is affecting a large share of internet-using children, citing a new report based on surveys of about 21,000 children aged 12 to 17 in 21 countries. The report, published on Thursday and circulated through Capital FM in Nairobi and AllAfrica, estimates that nearly one in five children in that age group experienced at least one form of online sexual abuse in a single year.

The findings suggest the problem is centered on platforms children use routinely, especially social media and online games. UNICEF says many cases involve people the child already knows, such as friends, relatives or romantic partners, although some perpetrators first met victims online. The report also describes common tactics such as unwanted sexual content, pressure to share images, and misuse of platform features like private messaging, fake profiles and repeated contact after blocking.

UNICEF says most incidents are never reported, with many children saying they did not know where to turn for help. The agency also links the abuse with poorer wellbeing outcomes, while noting the study shows correlation rather than proof of causation. The report calls on governments and technology companies to strengthen child-safety measures, including safer defaults, tighter limits on unsolicited adult contact, improved recommendation systems and better detection of abuse material, including AI-generated content.