A comprehensive survey has revealed the widespread nature of online harms experienced by children, with one in ten reporting receiving sexual messages and over a third exposed to violent or criminal content. The study, which surveyed children aged 10 to 15, indicates that these issues are prevalent across various age groups.
In the 12 months leading up to February, 12 percent of children aged 13 to 15 reported receiving at least one sexual message. Of those, a quarter received such messages more than ten times, and nearly one in five (19 percent) received them from individuals aged 18 and over. This suggests a concerning trend of adults targeting children online. Girls were more likely than boys to receive sexual messages from adults, with 25 percent of girls reporting this compared to 12 percent of boys. The majority of these unwanted sexual messages, 68 percent, were considered unsolicited by the recipients, and girls were significantly more likely to report receiving them (84 percent) than boys (49 percent).
Beyond direct messages, the survey highlighted broader exposure to harmful content. Nearly one in five children (19 percent) reported significant exposure to content encouraging eating disorders, while 15 percent encountered sexual images or videos, and over one in ten (12 percent) were exposed to material depicting or encouraging self-harm. For many children aged 13 to 15, this exposure was unintentional. Approximately four in five children encountered content encouraging eating disorders (83 percent), self-harm (82 percent), or sexual images/videos (80 percent) without actively seeking it.
Differences in exposure were also noted between genders. Girls reported higher exposure to hateful content (21 percent vs. 17 percent for boys) and material promoting eating disorders (10 percent vs. 3 percent for boys). Conversely, boys were more likely to search for sexual content online (18 percent) compared to girls (11 percent).
The survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), is expected to intensify discussions regarding the responsibilities of social media platforms in protecting young users. Accusations have been made that platform algorithms may inadvertently direct children toward disturbing material. The UK government has proposed measures to ban social media use for individuals under 16, though these are not anticipated to become law for at least another year, and the extent of restrictions for 16 and 17-year-olds remains unclear.
Children reported spending substantial amounts of time online. Among those aged 10 to 15, around 84 percent spent three or more hours online daily on weekends, with a quarter spending seven or more hours daily. On weekdays, two-thirds spent at least three hours online. Smartphones were the primary device used by most children (88 percent), followed by computers, laptops, or notebooks (62 percent). Popular online activities included watching videos, reels, vlogs, or livestreams (83 percent) and messaging (76 percent).
Caroline Youell of the ONS’ Centre for Crime and Justice stated that the survey provides crucial insights into children's experiences and perceptions of safety, both online and offline. She acknowledged that while the internet offers significant benefits, it also presents notable risks.