Abuse affects children of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Protecting girls online must therefore be part of a broader effort to keep all children safe. Data reported by INHOPE member hotlines provides insight into trends in the child sexual abuse material being reported and assessed. This data is based on reports from publicly accessible online spaces such as social media platforms, forums, and websites. It does not reflect the full scale of abuse, much of which remains hidden or unreported.
Year after year, the majority of reports processed by INHOPE hotlines involve material depicting children identified as female. Over 90% of assessed reports fall into this category, with most victims appearing to be between the ages of 3 and 13. These figures help explain why girls remain a key focus in online child protection efforts.
At the same time, it is important to recognise the limitations of this data. Evidence shows that boys experience high levels of sexual abuse that are often underreported, particularly in cases of financial sexual extortion or abuse taking place in private or encrypted spaces. A significant amount of child sexual abuse material found on dark web platforms also depicts boys. These patterns highlight that hotline data reflects what is visible and reported rather than the full prevalence of abuse.
One factor contributing to the higher visibility of abuse involving girls is the widespread sexualisation of women and girls in media and online culture. From a young age, girls are frequently exposed to content that links self-worth to appearance and sexuality.
Research suggests that girls are more likely to internalise body ideals seen online, which can lead to insecurity and lower self-esteem. More than half of girls report worrying about their body image after seeing images on social media, while this figure is significantly lower for boys. Offenders may exploit these insecurities to gain trust and exert control, but responsibility always lies with those who abuse and exploit children.
Protecting girls online requires addressing deeply rooted gender norms and stereotypes. Girls are often socialised to be accommodating, to seek approval, and to place value on appearance, which can increase their exposure to certain forms of exploitation. At the same time, boys are frequently encouraged to appear strong, independent, and unaffected, which can make it harder for them to recognise abuse, seek help, or be identified as victims.
These expectations harm all children. When boys are discouraged from expressing vulnerability or asking for support, abuse is more likely to remain hidden and unreported. Challenging harmful gender norms helps reduce the risks girls face online while also creating safer conditions for boys to speak up, access support, and be protected. Teaching respect, consent, empathy, and equality benefits everyone and is essential to preventing abuse and supporting victims of all genders.
The sexualisation of girls, combined with early access to technology and social media, increases the risks of sexual abuse and exploitation. Addressing these underlying factors must be central to efforts to protect girls online.
This includes improving digital education, holding online platforms accountable, and ensuring that victims have access to clear reporting pathways and support. All children, and especially girls, need to be equipped with knowledge on how to recognise grooming, protect themselves from NCII abuse, and know where to ask for help. Only through coordinated and inclusive efforts can we create a safer internet.
If you’ve come across sexual content of yourself or another minor, contact your local hotline to have it removed by selecting your country through the link below.
Safer Internet Day would not be possible without the support of the European Union. Currently, the funding is provided by the Connecting Europe Facility programme (CEF). In the future, actions will be funded through the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL). Find out more about the European Commission’s new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) on the EC website.
