In an October 2024 report, Unicef confronted the issue of sexual violence against children on a global scale. The facts are sobering, and the numbers and trends invoke action to help put a stop to these devastating offenses.
Sexual violence against children is a pervasive human rights violation that cuts across geographical, cultural, and economic boundaries. Its scale has historically been difficult to quantify, but Unicef’s publication makes groundbreaking progress, presenting the first-ever global and regional estimates of sexual violence against children.
The infographic below illustrates some of the report’s key takeaways. You can download the full report here.
Page five of the report gives particular attention to a facet of this issue that demands attention and should stir action: non-contact sexual abuse, which involves the use of porn.
Let’s dive into what this means and its implications.
What is non-contact sexual abuse?
According to the International Classification of Violence against Children, sexual violence against a child refers to “Any deliberate, unwanted and non-essential act of a sexual nature, either completed or attempted, that is perpetrated against a child, including for exploitative purposes, and that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, pain or psychological suffering.”
For the purposes of its publication, Unicef broadly categorized sexual violence into two types—contact sexual violence (including rape and sexual assault) and non-contact sexual violence.
There’s a key takeaway here: a child’s exposure (or even attempted exposure) to porn is considered abuse.
Because that fact is so consequential, let’s reemphasize: A child’s completed or attempted exposure to porn is not only harmful (meaning it causes or could cause injury, pain, or psychological suffering), it is classified as abuse.
That fact takes the issue of underage exposure to porn from perhaps a cause for concern based on individual opinion to a fact and distinct line in the sand—a child’s exposure to porn is in and of itself a form of sexual violence.
That exposure may come either in person or online, at the hand of a stranger, another child, or even a trusted adult. Tragically, porn is often used by perpetrators as a tool to groom their young victims to accept violence or abuse or to send intimate images. No matter how a child is exposed, the results of this report confirm that the introduction of porn to a child can inflict harm.
And so can non-consensual image-taking, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and unwanted sexting.
The rise in CSAM is alarming—driven by easy access to mainstream violent porn and smartphones. What’s especially staggering about this growing crisis is that over half of these offenses are now committed by children themselves.
The rise of child-on-child abuse involves crimes of both indecent images and direct physical abuse. And much of the CSAM that circulates is either perceived as or, in reality, self-generated—i.e., sharing nudes or sexting.
Teens sending nudes is a rising problem. In a study conducted in 2020 by Thorn, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys ages 13 to 17 have shared their own nudes, 27% of 12-17 year-olds receive sexts, and nearly 15% send them. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to suggest that those numbers could be much higher today, especially given that the study showed twice as many kids aged 9-12 reported sending nudes of themselves in 2020 compared to 2019.
Many teens are pressured or manipulated to send nudes or receive them unsolicited—both of which fall under the category of non-contact sexual violence against children.
What will we do with these facts?
These are issues that, at the very least, society should be aware of and openly acknowledge.
Porn has become so normalized and the content itself so prevalent as it infiltrates virtually every digital platform that some individuals and interested parties simply brush it aside. But what we’re seeing in terms of research, hard data, and a tidal wife of anecdotal personal accounts shows that porn is anything but harmless to those who consume it.
And yes, when it comes to children, exposure to porn is a form of sexual violence against them.
Unicef’s report emphasizes a phenomenon that’s taken society by storm in this digital age—abuse doesn’t have to involve physical contact to inflict real harm. The perceived separation of content and consumer through a screen doesn’t protect kids. In fact, it makes this issue even more complex, given that this material is literally available at their fingertips.
And not only is porn something kids could stumble upon if they search for it, but abusers often target young viewers in an attempt to make them lifetime customers or to use porn as a tool to groom them for further abuse.
So what can be done, and who should be held responsible? Individuals? Platforms? Abusers? Parents? The porn industry?
Lasting solutions may be multifaceted and complex, but a great place to start is to spread awareness about the harmful effects of pornography on individuals, relationships, and society as a whole.
When we each take ownership to be part of the solution, we can work together to create a better world.
Whether you’re a teen, a parent, or anyone interested in or affected by this issue, Fight The New Drug offers science, facts, and personal accounts to support your efforts to learn more and share the facts in your circles and communities.
Wondering where to start? You’re not alone in this fight. Check out our Parent Resource Page and download Raise—free resources available to help you navigate the challenges of today’s digital landscape.
