Around 1.5 million children in Pakistan experienced online sexual abuse over a one-year period, highlighting growing concerns about child safety as internet and social media use expands.
The reported cases involve children aged between 12 and 17, with a large majority of alleged perpetrators known to their victims. Abuse can begin through seemingly harmless online interactions, including gaming, social media conversations, offers of gifts or money, and attempts to develop personal relationships.
In many cases, perpetrators reportedly spend extended periods building trust with children before seeking sexual content or attempting to arrange meetings. Threats to expose private conversations or images can then be used to pressure victims into compliance.
A large proportion of victims in Pakistan do not report the abuse. Around 71 per cent of affected children reportedly did not tell anyone, while none of those surveyed reported the incidents through formal channels such as police, helplines or social workers.
Stigma, shame and fears about reactions from families and society were identified as major reasons for remaining silent.
Around 44 per cent of reported abuse was entirely online, with messaging and social media platforms among the common environments where such incidents occurred.
Girls may face additional risks, including sexual extortion and threats of exposure, which can result in restrictions on their movement or withdrawal from education.
Pakistan has a large population of young internet users, with around 74 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 estimated to use the internet. The growing use of digital platforms has increased concerns about online exploitation and the effectiveness of existing safeguards.
A provincial proposal to restrict social media access for children under 16 has also generated debate over implementation and children’s digital rights. Critics have argued that such restrictions could be difficult to enforce and potentially bypassed through technological means.
Pakistan has laws addressing technology-facilitated offences against children, but concerns remain over enforcement and gaps in the existing legal framework.
Experts have also warned that financial vulnerability can be exploited by perpetrators, with some victims allegedly targeted through offers of relatively small amounts of money in exchange for sexual content.
The abuse can involve a broader process of online grooming, inducement, coercion, blackmail, production and distribution of sexual material.
The growing scale of online exploitation has raised calls for stronger enforcement, better reporting mechanisms, greater awareness among children and parents, and improved protection measures across digital platforms.
