One in five teenagers experiences online sexual abuse - UNICEF

**One in five teenagers is a victim of online sexual abuse – UNICEF report**

According to a study conducted by UNICEF, the internet is becoming an uncontrolled and dangerous place for children. Social networks are distributing dangerous content in order to keep users longer, which is causing psychological problems and even suicidal thoughts in adolescents. According to the study, one in five teenagers worldwide has experienced online sexual abuse.

**Details:**

* **Scale of abuse:** One in five teenagers aged 12 to 17 will be sexually abused in 2025.

* **Exposure to content:** More than 15 million children have been exposed to unwanted sexual content.

* **Forced conversations:** 9 million children have been forced into such conversations.

* **Unauthorized images:** 4 million children's images were shared without their consent.

**Response of victims and perpetrators:**

* **Non-reporting:** 41% of victims did not tell anyone.

* **Reporting to law enforcement:** Less than 1% of cases were reported to law enforcement.

* **Identity of perpetrators:** 57% of perpetrators were known to the victim (friends, family members or lovers). Only 16% of cases involved strangers.

**Sources of threat:**

The main sources of threat are the platforms Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, owned by Meta. There have also been cases of harassment via Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and online games.

**Scope of the study:**

The study was conducted among 21,000 adolescents in 21 countries. Similar results were recorded in Europe and the United States; in Europe, 22% of adolescents reported receiving sexually explicit messages online.

**UNICEF call and global action:**

UNICEF is calling on governments and technology companies to better protect children. The debate over banning social media is intensifying around the world. Australia has become the first country to ban children under 16 from using social media. Similar restrictions are also being introduced in the United Kingdom and France.

**US settlement:**

In the United States, Meta has settled a lawsuit alleging that it harmed children. The company agreed to pay the states $17.1 billion and limit the time teenagers spend online to 2 hours a day. Nighttime access will be completely banned.

**Uzbekistan Population Forecast:**

Previously, UNICEF reported that Uzbekistan's population will exceed 52 million by 2050. According to the organization's analytical guide "Central Asia 2050 Generation", the population is expected to exceed 40 million by 2030 and 52 million by 2050. This level of population growth is mainly due to the fact that the birth rate remains consistently higher than the death rate.