# UNICEF: One in five youths targeted by online sexual abuse

https://mins.news/en/item/42876

- DW, 2026-09-03 00:05 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://www.dw.com/en/unicef-1-in-5-youths-targeted-by-online-sexual-abuse/a-78654173?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf

> A UNICEF survey of around 21,000 internet-using young people in 21 countries found that one in five respondents aged 12 to 17 experienced online sexual abuse in the past year. More than 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content, while many were pressured into sexual conversations or sharing images. UNICEF warned the true scale is likely higher.

## Related coverage

- [20 million children a year face online sexual abuse, UNICEF says](https://mins.news/en/item/44028) — Al Jazeera, 2026-09-03
- [UNICEF estimates 20 million children suffered online sexual abuse in one year](https://mins.news/en/item/43173) — Reuters, 2026-09-03