The National Crime Agency (NCA) in Britain is advocating for enhanced safeguards for children on the internet, citing that over 90% of removed child sex abuse material consists of content created by victims themselves.
Highlighting the alarming statistics, the NCA emphasized the perilous nature of the current online environment for children. The agency disclosed a substantial surge in reports of child sex abuse from online sources, reaching close to 100,000 in 2025, marking a fourfold increase compared to six years prior.
Moreover, it is estimated that approximately 840,000 adults in the UK pose a sexual threat to children, with instances of children falling prey to strangers’ grooming tactics on various websites and social platforms. A prominent case unveiled the exploitation of 320 victims by a ‘sextortion’ network comprising 6,000 members.
This network coerced schoolgirls into sending explicit images under false pretenses, subsequently threatening to circulate the images unless more were provided. The situation escalated to include severe abuse like degrading acts, including self-harm, streamed live.
NCA Director General Graeme Biggar stressed the urgency, stating that officers encounter distressing cases daily, underscoring the perilous online landscape for children. He noted the staggering volume of reported instances, with tech companies flagging 400 suspected occurrences of online child sexual abuse in the UK daily, indicating a rise in both frequency and severity, with younger children increasingly affected.
Biggar further pointed out that children generating and sharing explicit content through devices, including encrypted services, facilitate various forms of child sexual exploitation, such as grooming, extortion, and self-generated imagery. Implementing restrictions on children’s devices presents an opportunity to safeguard children and curtail offenses at their source.
The NCA’s advocacy for heightened online protections for children coincides with Technology Secretary Liz Kendall’s call for decisive action to shield minors. Kendall hinted at the possibility of banning social media for those under 16, signaling a potential prohibition on popular platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Acknowledging parental concerns, Kendall emphasized the overwhelming demand for assistance and support, noting that while social media offers benefits to children, there are apprehensions regarding the content they encounter. The strong parental support for a social media ban for under 16s, as evidenced by a consultation, underscores the gravity of the issue.