Global study finds 300 million children face online sexual exploitation

A significant number of children worldwide are experiencing online sexual exploitation and grooming, with authorities and researchers highlighting the scale of the threat and calling for urgent preventative measures. Recent enforcement actions have exposed networks using mainstream digital platforms to target minors, while new global research frames the issue as a widespread public health emergency.

Police operations have led to numerous arrests and the seizure of hundreds of thousands of files containing child exploitation material. Officials note that offenders are increasingly exploiting everyday online spaces where interactions with strangers are common, including social media apps, messaging platforms, and online gaming communities. The anonymity provided by digital platforms has significantly lowered the barriers for predators to access and manipulate children, often without needing a prior physical connection.

Research from the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute indicates the scope of the problem is vast. The institute’s data, drawn from studies across 60 countries, suggests that in the past year, more than 300 million children experienced some form of online sexual...