Brussels, November 18 – 55% of parents surveyed ranked online safety as their top concern, surpassing fears about children’s mental and physical health. Marking the Day for the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, a new survey by ECPAT International of 2,644 parents across Sweden, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, and France, revealed the pressing concerns that European parents have about child safety online. The risks parents fear most include children encountering explicit content, online offenders, and unsolicited contact from strangers—cited by 59% of those surveyed as their primary online concern.
Additional research from ECPAT International, Eurochild, and Terre Des Hommes Netherlands showed that children prefer to keep their online experiences to themselves, turning to adults only as a last resort. Children said they would only ask for help when “big things happen online”. Others report they would filter what they tell their caregivers out of fear of harsh consequences.
“Some children with the age below 13 years old can make accounts on social media and they could be influenced by adults to [participate] in sexual affairs and to receive inappropriate photos.” (Child participating in the VOICE Research)
These findings come at a time of heightened concern around child sexual abuse and exploitation online. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), over 100 million images of child sexual abuse were reported online only in 2023—a staggering average of 250,000 per day. End The Child Sexual Abuse Crisis and Take Action.
In Europe, the situation is equally horrifying and infuriating. Just this month courts in France delivered unprecedented sentences for child sexual abuse online. A man received a 25-year sentence for orchestrating the live-streamed abuse of girls, some as young as five years old.
“As the scale of child abuse and exploitation, including online, reaches devastating levels, it is more crucial than ever for the European Parliament and national governments to take action. Every day of inaction leaves countless children across the EU and beyond vulnerable to unimaginable harm. The time to protect our children is now.” Isaline Wittorski – EU Regional Coordinator, ECPAT International
With the child sexual abuse crisis accelerating and parental concerns at an all-time high, the ECPAT International network is calling for urgent action.
This week, ECPAT members from across Europe will meet with Members of the European Parliament to discuss the urgent need for stronger online child protection laws and policies and present data on the crisis drawn from national insights and experiences. Immediate action is needed to ensure a safer digital world for all children.
For more information, please contact Andrew Beaton at communications@ecpat.org