Child internet safety

Recently, the TV channel once again highlighted the serious risks of online grooming, emphasizing that the issue is not limited to platforms like Roblox but extends to social networks, messaging apps, mobile games, and even the 'darknet'. Detailed data from UNICEF, IWF, NCMEC, and Europol show that children across Europe, the CIS, and the world are exposed to sexual exploitation and extremist propaganda.

In 2025, UNICEF reported that 20% of children in 12 countries across Europe and Central Asia experienced online sexual exploitation within a year. According to a Childlight study, 6.7% of children in Western Europe experienced sexual abuse before the age of 18. In the European Union, 62% of web pages containing child sexual abuse material are hosted in EU countries, and in Germany, 33% of teenagers aged 12–19 reported incidents of online harassment.

In 2023, the United States submitted over 36 million reports to NCMEC regarding suspected online child exploitation, and in 2025, Europol identified over 2,000 links to radical propaganda targeting minors.

Major cases include the 'grooming gangs' in Rotherham, where over 1,400 girls were affected, and the 'Blue Whale' program in the CIS, where teenagers were manipulated into committing suicide.

According to Article 37-2 of the Republic of Belarus Law on Child Protection, parents must protect children from harmful information. Recommendations include enabling parental controls (Google Family Link, Screen Time, Qustodio), discussing risks with children, checking subscriptions on Telegram, VK, TikTok, using two-factor authentication, and limiting screen time to 2 hours per day for children aged 5–14. If signs of internet grooming are detected, immediate action should be taken.

Context

Earlier, the broadcaster covered the topic of child protection in Roblox, analyzing vulnerabilities in the age verification system.