A September 2026 UNICEF report titled Through Children's Eyes reveals critical insights into technology-facilitated sexual abuse, showing that children are most frequently harmed by people already known to them.
According to the report, 57 per cent of perpetrators are individuals the victims know, including friends, family members, or romantic partners.
Strangers account for 16 per cent of cases involving perpetrators, while in 27 per cent of instances, children were either unable to identify the perpetrator or chose not to disclose their identity.
The data also outlines where children first encounter offenders in technology-facilitated sexual abuse cases.
On average, 38 per cent of children first met the perpetrator online, establishing the internet as the primary point of contact. Schools represent the initial point of contact in 26 per cent of cases, followed by public places at 23 per cent.
The findings emphasise that while online spaces serve as the primary avenue for initial contact, familiar social circles and known individuals constitute the majority of threats to children in technology-facilitated abuse scenarios.
