CLINICAL

This category presents the clinical evidence on the measurable impact of social media on children and adolescents. It covers mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, problematic use), gender disparities in vulnerability, and the scale of online harms including child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and exploitation.

Data from the World Health Organization, INHOPE, WeProtect Global Alliance and the EU Joint Research Centre documents a consistent pattern: approximately 1 in 10 adolescents exhibits clinically problematic social media behaviour, with girls disproportionately affected. The category also tracks the alarming escalation of CSAM — a 202% increase in confirmed illegal records in 2024 — and the emergence of new threat vectors including AI-generated abuse material and financial sexual extortion (+7200%).

The evidence establishes that 93.24% of victims in reported cases are pre-pubescent children (ages 3–13), and that 70–85% of abuse involves known perpetrators using digital platforms to maintain contact.

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Age Demographics of Victims (2023-2024)

The 2024 data indicate a narrowing of the target demographic toward the pre-pubescent (3-13 years old) age group, which now accounts for 93.24% of all cases — an all-time high concentration of harm in the primary-school age bracket.

World Victim age demographics Problem

Gender Disparity in Social Media Use and Mental Health

This table highlights a critical divergence in how social media affects 15-year-old adolescents based on gender. Female adolescents are significantly more vulnerable both in terms of dosage (42% vs 32% high usage) and response (60% vs 35% depression symptoms, 65% vs 41% anxiety symptoms).

European Union Gender and mental health Problem

Global Scaling of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

The digital environment has reached a critical tipping point where the volume of child sexual abuse material has surged by 87% in three years, reaching 32 million global reports. Over half of global respondents experienced sexual harm online during their childhood.

World CSAM prevalence Problem

Longitudinal Trend of CSAM Identification (2020-2024)

A record-breaking surge in CSAM identification, with 2024 figures surpassing the previous five-year peak by over 140%. Confirmed illegal records jumped by 202% in a single year to reach 1.63 million, indicating an unprecedented level of harmful material exchange.

World CSAM identification trend Problem

Prevalence and Perpetrator Relationship in European CSA Cases

1 in 5 children in Europe experience some form of abuse or exploitation. 70-85% of victims know their abuser, contradicting the stranger danger narrative. Social media platforms serve as the digital infrastructure allowing known abusers to maintain private, unmonitored contact with children outside of physical sightlines.

European Union CSA prevalence and perpetrators Problem

Problematic Social Media Use and Online Engagement

Approximately 1 in 10 adolescents now exhibits problematic social media behavior, defined by clinical, addiction-like symptoms such as withdrawal and inability to control usage. This risk is notably higher for girls (13%) than boys (9%). 36% of youth are in perpetual online contact with friends, peaking at 44% among 15-year-old girls.

44 countries (Europe, Central Asia, Canada) Problematic social media use Problem