THE digital age contains death traps for children. A new Unicef report reveals a global child exploitation emergency. About 20m internet-using children across 21 countries, including Pakistan, faced online sexual exploitation in a single year; 60pc of reported violations were on digital platforms while 14pc occurred in online gaming. More than one in five children became targets of sexual exploitation; 15m were exposed to sexual images, and 4m had sexual material “shared without permission”. Almost 1.1m reported AI-generated sexual images or videos showing them. Sadly, these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. Online predators follow a perversion pyramid. Offences begin with chatting and sharing of inappropriate content then assume the form of solicitation, ‘sextortion’, and misuse of AI deepfake technology.

These statistics mean permanently damaged lives. The scale of the crisis is a consequence of keeping the scourge hidden. Victims of tech-facilitated sexual violations are reportedly four times more vulnerable to self-harm, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. As abusers are often known to the victims, voicing these traumas is difficult for reasons of shame and ostracisation. Whether it happens online or offline, the toll of abuse is lifelong. It impedes education, employment and productivity. To keep children from harm, protections to ensure a safe digital space are crucial. Legislation must possess commitment, transparency and precision; enforcement lapses should be punishable. As in the West, there is a need for Pakistan to restrict social media use for under-16-year-olds. But the onus of digital safety lies with the parents. No law can succeed until the authorities and society stop slinking around this grave issue. Totally darkened screens can hamper learning and information. Instead, investment in police training, a cyber-patrol force to track down web criminals, and active encouragement to report dangerous online spaces are vital. While an evolving cyberspace is hard to secure, it cannot be allowed to cripple the young.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2026