A new report released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reveals that nearly 20 million children across 21 countries, including Ethiopia, are subjected to sexual violence or exploitation through digital technologies every year.
According to the report, one in every five children aged 12 to 17 in countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe is vulnerable to digital platform abuses.
Titled "Through Children's Eyes How Digital Technologies Enable Child Sexual Abuse," the report indicates that approximately 15 million children were coerced into viewing unwanted sexual images and videos.
Furthermore, 9 million children were forced into unwanted sexual conversations or compelled to share explicit images of them, while 4 million children had their private sexual images distributed to others without consent.
More than half of these attacks occurred on major social media platforms, with less than one percent of cases reported to relevant authorities, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Specifically, 60 percent of the abuses took place on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and TikTok, while 14 percent occurred through online gaming platforms.
Another critical finding of the report reveals that 57 percent of victims knew their perpetrators, who were often close acquaintances, friends, romantic partners, or family members.
The abuse inflicts severe psychological and mental trauma on children, quadrupling their risk of self-harm or suicide.
Addressing the findings, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated, "Too many children are suffering in silence, not knowing where to turn, and we cannot simply look away." UNICEF has urged technology companies and community stakeholders to take immediate action, demanding that tech firms prioritize child safety and privacy when designing applications.
In a related context, the American tech giant Meta has repeatedly faced lawsuits for employing features that expose teenagers to risks and social media addiction, while various governments around the world are currently drafting legislation to restrict social media usage and establish minimum age requirements for minors.
