Our Voice: Survivor Experiences of Online Abuse. Understanding the Distinct Impacts of Online and Offline Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
- Protect Children
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
REPORT
Our Voice: Survivor Experiences of Online Abuse. Understanding the Distinct Impacts of Online and Offline Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Every year, 300 million children globally experience online sexual violence. The rapid development of digital spaces without robust child safeguards have diversified and multiplied opportunities for offending. Despite the alarming numbers, online child sexual violence is often not taken seriously, and its impacts remain misrepresented and misunderstood.
Our new report explores experiences of 24,912 survivors of child sexual violence collected in 36 languages through the Global Our Voice Survivor Survey, unveiling the specific characteristics and devastating consequences of online abuse through the comprehensive examination of online, in-person, and mixed victimisation experiences.
 | No one ever actually touched me or sexually abused me, but I still felt violated. I didn’t know that sexual violence could happen over the phone when I was so young. Survivor of online child sexual abuse and exploitation in response to the Global Our Voice Survivor Survey (English-speaking) |
Research findings:
Children are at the highest risk of online sexual violence at the age 10-15. 55% of respondents were first subjected to online sexual abuse and exploitation when they were 10-15 years old.
Perpetrators are often known to the victim. 61% of respondents knew the perpetrator before the abuse began, most commonly through their family or social circles. In 47% of cases, the abuse involved more than one perpetrator.
There is an overlap between online child sexual violence and other forms of sexual abuse and exploitation, which enables a complex, overlapping, and cumulative nature of victimisation.
Online child sexual violence often leads to severe and lasting impacts. 74% of survivors report long-term negative consequences, most commonly anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction, relationship difficulties, and self-harm.
Experiences of online sexual violence are not taken seriously. 55% of survivors did not disclose their experiences due to feelings of shame, while 45% thought it was not serious enough.
The findings of this report show that online child sexual violence is not a less serious form of abuse. It can have severe and long-lasting impacts on victims and survivors, while also presenting challenges in relation to recognition, disclosure, support, and reparation. It is essential to recognise online child sexual violence as a distinct and serious form of harm and to ensure all survivors have access to justice and support.
About the report
This research report is written for Protect Children by Eva Díaz Bethencourt, Lea Kamitz, Katariina Leivo, Tegan Insoll, Anna Ovaska, Valeriia Soloveva, Samantha Lundrigan, and Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen.
Data analysis was supported by the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute.
Suggested citation: Protect Children. (2026). Our Voice: Survivor Experiences of Online Abuse. Understanding the Distinct Impacts of Online and Offline Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en/post/our-voice-report-online-child-sexual-abuse-survivors
Cover design by Néstor Feijoo Melián. https://rayon.es/
About the Global Our Voice Survivor Survey
The Global Our Voice Survivor Survey is directed at individuals over the age of 18 who have been subjected to sexual violence in childhood. The primary aim of the survey is to raise the voice and wisdom of those who have been subjected to sexual violence in their childhood. The valuable data and information we are collecting through this survey will be used to strengthen child protection measures and victims' rights.
This survey is conducted by Protect Children. The project is funded by the Justice Initiative.
