Young people aged 15 to 24 report substantial risks when using the internet, including cyberbullying that leads some to skip school and widespread concerns about sexual exploitation, even as overall internet access in this age group reaches 82 percent in 2025.
The internet gives children and young people new ways to communicate, learn, socialize, and explore ideas. At the same time, its borderless nature makes protecting them from harm a shared international challenge that involves governments, technology companies, educators, and families. Young users face peer-to-peer violence, harmful content, disinformation, privacy invasions, and exploitation that can affect their development and well-being.
Narrowing Generational Differences in Internet Use
Young people aged 15 to 24 remain more likely to use the internet than other age groups. Revised estimates show this gap has narrowed gradually over the last four years, with 82 percent of 15- to 24-year-olds online in 2025. This wider access expands opportunities but also increases exposure to potential harms.
Documented Risks from International Reports
Surveys across multiple countries highlight several common problems. More than one-third of young people in 30 countries say they have experienced cyberbullying, and one in five report skipping school as a result. Many encounter hate speech, violent content, or material that encourages self-harm. Digital platforms also serve as channels for extremist recruitment, disinformation and conspiracy theories.
The most serious concern involves online sexual exploitation and abuse. Roughly 80 percent of children in 25 countries report feeling at risk of sexual abuse or exploitation online. Offenders use platforms to contact victims, share imagery, and encourage further offenses. Additional risks include privacy violations for marketing purposes and excessive screen time promoted through child-targeted apps.
UN Agencies’ Coordinated Response Efforts
Several United Nations bodies work on child online safety through awareness campaigns, guidelines, technical support, and policy recommendations. The International Telecommunication Union leads the Child Online Protection Initiative, a multi-stakeholder network that develops practical tools for governments, industry, and educators. ITU also provides Guidelines on Child Online Protection that outline responsibilities for creating safer online environments.
UNICEF partners with social media platforms on resources to address cyberbullying and supports national responses to online child sexual exploitation in more than 20 countries using the WePROTECT Global Alliance model. The World Health Organization’s 2022 report on preventing online violence emphasizes educational programs for children and parents covering grooming, image abuse, and harassment.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime helps countries prevent human trafficking that occurs through online recruitment. UNESCO leads work on media and information literacy to help young people evaluate content critically and promotes global guidelines on platform responsibilities toward children.
Children’s Rights Framework in the Digital Environment
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has issued guidance on applying the Convention on the Rights of the Child to digital technologies. This followed consultations with governments, civil society organizations, and more than 700 children and young people from 27 countries. The Committee calls for legislation and other measures to shield children from harmful content and all forms of digital violence, including trafficking, cyber-aggression, and gender-based violence. It stresses that children’s own views should inform both policy and technology design.
UNICEF initiatives such as Global Kids Online and Disrupting Harm collect evidence on how digital technology affects children’s lives and risks. Annual events like Safer Internet Day, supported by multiple UN agencies, raise awareness of ongoing and emerging issues.
Stated Challenges and Scope of Current Actions
The provided overview notes that effective protection requires coordinated global action, but it does not present new empirical research or evaluate the impact of specific programs. Much of the risk data comes from self-reported surveys that vary by country and methodology. The material emphasizes the need for stronger legislation, industry responsibility, and education while acknowledging that the internet’s rapid evolution creates persistent difficulties.
