The NSPCC has reported a significant rise in children being blackmailed online using sexual images, as concerns grow over the dangers young people face on social media and messaging platforms across the UK.
The child protection charity said contacts with its Childline counselling service relating to online sexual abuse and exploitation increased by 36% over the past year, largely driven by a sharp rise in online blackmail cases.
According to the NSPCC, many children are being targeted through so-called “sextortion” scams, where victims are manipulated into sharing explicit images before being threatened with exposure unless money or further images are provided.
The charity also warned about growing cases involving artificial intelligence, where images taken from children’s phones or social media accounts are altered using AI tools to create fake sexually explicit content.
In some incidents, children were also reportedly pressured by former partners into sending additional explicit images.
Childline recorded 2,444 counselling sessions linked to online sexual abuse and exploitation in the year ending 31 March, with blackmail mentioned in 1,043 of those conversations.
Children speaking to advisers described being tricked by criminals pretending to be teenagers online or threatened after sending images to older men.
The NSPCC published the findings as pressure increases on the UK government to strengthen online safety laws and social media regulation.
Experts have recently advised schools to remove photos of pupils from websites and social media pages after discovering that offenders are using AI tools to manipulate children’s images into explicit content.
Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, said it was “crucial” for the government to use the current online safety consultation to force technology companies to better protect young users.
The consultation is considering tougher restrictions, including an Australian-style ban preventing under-16s from accessing social media, as well as limits on livestreaming and addictive app features such as infinite scrolling.
However, the NSPCC warned that a blanket social media ban for under-16s could have “unintended consequences”, including pushing children towards less regulated and potentially more dangerous online spaces once they turn 16.
Instead, the charity is calling for stronger enforcement of the Online Safety Act, stricter age ratings for social media platforms, tougher action against addictive app features and smartphone technology capable of blocking nude images.
MPs on the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee have also urged ministers to introduce stronger protections for children online.
Committee chair Chi Onwurah said MPs were “struck by the examples of a range of significant harms to individuals from the use of social media”.
She called for technology firms to provide greater transparency about the algorithms shaping children’s social media feeds and more evidence about the impact platforms are having on young users.
The government has already pledged to take further action and is considering new restrictions on social media platforms.
Responding to the NSPCC report, a government spokesperson said the Online Safety Act already includes measures designed to protect children from online harms such as bullying and exploitation.
“We won’t hesitate to go further in ensuring children are safe online, which is why we are consulting on everything, from age limits and apps curfews to an outright ban,” the spokesperson said.