About one in four children worldwide is manipulated into sexual interactions online, according to a new report led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh. The study, published by the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute (GCSI), describes the phenomenon as a worldwide health emergency.
Key Findings
The report, titled Into the Light Data Update, found that 27% of children experience online grooming, with some being pressured into sending inappropriate images. Specifically, 38.6% of girls and 19% of boys are affected before reaching the age of 18.
Additionally, the institute estimates that one in 10 children may face sextortion, a form of blackmail where intimate photos are shared online unless the victim complies with the perpetrator's demands.
Global Scale
Childlight also found evidence that approximately 1,500 individuals across more than 60 countries possess paedophile manuals designed to evade justice. The report further states that over 300 million children experienced some form of sexual exploitation online in the past year, while more than 130 million suffered abuse offline in 2024.
Call to Action
Launched at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, the report draws from 147 studies across 60 countries, using representative population surveys. It urges governments to recognise online child sexual abuse as a public health priority.
Professor Debi Fry, Childlight's global director of data and lead author of the study, stated: “The harms of childhood sexual abuse are not fleeting. For many victims they include trauma, anxiety, depression and self-harm that can last long into adulthood. Evidence indicates that it is a greater contributor to ill health among girls and women than widely recognised risk factors such as smoking, harmful alcohol use or lack of physical activity. Among boys it is a greater factor than poor diet. So, this is a worldwide health emergency – but it is preventable.”
Survivor Perspective
Rhiannon-Faye McDonald, who was abused at age 13 after being approached online by a man posing as a teenager, now campaigns for better online safety through the Marie Collins Foundation. She said: “These findings reflect what we see every day in our work with victims and survivors of technology-assisted child sexual abuse. The scale is deeply concerning, and the impacts are real and long-lasting. Framing this as a public health issue is essential. Health systems have a critical role to play in recognising harm early, responding appropriately and preventing further trauma – but that depends on children being identified and treated as victims within those systems. Without that recognition, opportunities for early support and prevention are too often missed.”
