Under 1% of Online Child Sexual Abuse Incidents Reported to Authorities, UNICEF Finds

A UNICEF report released September 3, 2026, estimates 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries face online sexual abuse yearly — yet under 1% of incidents reach authorities. Over 60% of cases occurred on social media, mainly Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The findings span Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe, leaving detection systems capturing a near-negligible share.