UNICEF: 20 million young people sexually abused online in a year
UNICEF estimated in early September 2026 that about 20 million young people were sexually harassed or abused online in a year, through fake profiles, deepfake videos and photos. An estimated 1.1 million children reported that AI-generated sexual content had been made of them.
Who is affected and how
- student
- If a deepfake is made of you, report it and ask for help.
- teacher
- Pay particular attention to signs of online harassment and AI image manipulation.
- school leader
- Deepfakes should be covered in the school's child protection protocol.
- parent
- Talk openly with children about fake profiles and deepfakes.
- education policymaker
- The data argue for stricter platform and child protection regulation.
Sources
- UNICEF: tens of millions of young people sexually harassed or abused online in one year - Infostart.huinfostart.hu · Sep 3, 2026 · magyar
- 20 million children became victims of sexual abuse on digital platforms in a single year24.hu · Sep 3, 2026 · magyar
Machine-generated summary based on the titles and excerpts of the source articles. The facts come from the linked article.