Britain’s crime agency is urging for increased safeguards for children online, citing that over 90% of child sexual abuse material removed contains content created by the victims themselves. The National Crime Agency (NCA) disclosed this alarming statistic while emphasizing that the current online landscape is perilous for children. In 2025, the NCA received nearly 100,000 reports of online child sexual abuse, marking a substantial fourfold surge compared to six years ago.
It is estimated that approximately 840,000 adults in the UK pose a sexual threat to children, with instances involving children being groomed by strangers on various online platforms. Notably, police have identified 320 victims within a ‘sextortion’ network comprising 6,000 members. This network exploited schoolgirls into sharing explicit images under false pretenses, subsequently coercing them with threats of dissemination and escalating to severe forms of abuse, including self-destructive acts broadcasted live.
Graeme Biggar, the Director General of the NCA, remarked on the harrowing reality faced by law enforcement in investigating such cases, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced child protection measures online. He highlighted the escalating severity and frequency of online child sexual abuse cases, involving even younger children and emphasized the role of technology in enabling such offenses.
In response to these concerning trends, the NCA has advocated for stricter controls on children’s mobile devices to mitigate the risks they face online. This push for enhanced child protection measures aligns with the recent stance of Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who hinted at potential drastic actions to safeguard children. Kendall suggested the possibility of banning social media access for individuals under 16, particularly targeting popular platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Kendall highlighted the overwhelming support from parents for such measures, reflecting their concerns over the content and interactions witnessed on social media platforms. The strong parental consensus for a social media ban for under-16s underscores the growing apprehension regarding the impact of online platforms on young users’ well-being and safety.