About one in 12 children worldwide experienced virtual sexual abuse in the past month, according to a study published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh and China Agricultural University analyzed 123 research conducted from 2010 to 2023, finding that one in eight children worldwide were affected by image-based sexual victimization online, while a similar amount experienced online solicitation—being persuaded into physical activity or coverage.
” One in 12 children worldwide have been subjected to at least one form of online sexual abuse or misuse in the past time,” the authors reported, emphasizing the immediate need for protective steps.
The investigation identified four types of abuse: online physical abuse ( 4. 7 % global prevalence ), sexual extortion (3. 5 % ), image-based abuse, and solicitation. The experts found no significant sex difference in abuse, challenging previous data that suggested ladies were more prone than boys. They attributed this change to changes in online situations increasing threats for kids.
The group highlighted deficiencies in research, especially in areas like South Asia, East Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East, where national-level information is limited. ” These provinces constitute a large percentage of the international child people, so there is an urgent need for analysis,” they stated.
The findings underline the need for stronger policy and major prevention efforts to combat the growing threat of online child sexual abuse and keep babies healthy worldwide.
