A new study from researchers at the Georgia State University School of Public Health and the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute estimates that 1 in 12 children worldwide have been subjected to online child sexual exploitation or abuse.
The researchers, whose findings appear in the February issue of the journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, conducted a meta-analysis of more than 120 studies encompassing 57 countries to arrive at their estimates. In studies that examined the overall prevalence of online child sexual exploitation or abuse, the average was 1 in 12, or 8% of children globally.
"The risk of online child sexual exploitation and abuse is growing rapidly in tandem with increased access to the internet and smartphones," said Xiangming Fang, Research Associate Professor at the GSU School of Public Health. "Our study seeks to raise awareness among the public and policymakers and to inform prevention efforts to protect young people."
Fang and his colleagues at the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute at the University of Edinburgh reviewed studies published between 2011 and 2023 and found a broad range of estimates.
They calculated averages for specific subtypes of online child sexual exploitation and abuse, including online solicitation such as unwanted sexual talk (12.5%); non-consensual taking, sharing and exposure to sexual images and videos (12.6%); online sexual exploitation (4.7%); and sexual extortion (3.5%). Using only the studies that examined three or more subtypes, they calculated an overall prevalence of 8.1%.
The researchers emphasized that accurate prevalence estimates are vital to informing policy responses and public health interventions. They also acknowledged that the fast-paced development of social media and other virtual communications enable new types of abuse to emerge, which makes estimating the full extent of online child sexual exploitation and abuse extremely challenging.
"With 8.1% of children globally the victim of sexual exploitation and abuse, we urgently need the online world to have safety built in by design," said Professor Deborah Fry, Global Director of Data at Childlight.
"This must be supported by much more robust regulation of online environments in every country, with improved education for young people and those who care for them. The abuse and exploitation of children is preventable, but action is needed now. Children can't wait any longer."
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A new study from researchers at the Georgia State University School of Public Health and the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute estimates that 1 in 12 children worldwide have been subjected to online child sexual exploitation or abuse.
The researchers, whose findings appear in the February issue of the journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, conducted a meta-analysis of more than 120 studies encompassing 57 countries to arrive at their estimates. In studies that examined the overall prevalence of online child sexual exploitation or abuse, the average was 1 in 12, or 8% of children globally.
"The risk of online child sexual exploitation and abuse is growing rapidly in tandem with increased access to the internet and smartphones," said Xiangming Fang, Research Associate Professor at the GSU School of Public Health. "Our study seeks to raise awareness among the public and policymakers and to inform prevention efforts to protect young people."
Fang and his colleagues at the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute at the University of Edinburgh reviewed studies published between 2011 and 2023 and found a broad range of estimates.
They calculated averages for specific subtypes of online child sexual exploitation and abuse, including online solicitation such as unwanted sexual talk (12.5%); non-consensual taking, sharing and exposure to sexual images and videos (12.6%); online sexual exploitation (4.7%); and sexual extortion (3.5%). Using only the studies that examined three or more subtypes, they calculated an overall prevalence of 8.1%.
The researchers emphasized that accurate prevalence estimates are vital to informing policy responses and public health interventions. They also acknowledged that the fast-paced development of social media and other virtual communications enable new types of abuse to emerge, which makes estimating the full extent of online child sexual exploitation and abuse extremely challenging.
"With 8.1% of children globally the victim of sexual exploitation and abuse, we urgently need the online world to have safety built in by design," said Professor Deborah Fry, Global Director of Data at Childlight.
"This must be supported by much more robust regulation of online environments in every country, with improved education for young people and those who care for them. The abuse and exploitation of children is preventable, but action is needed now. Children can't wait any longer."
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