That's according to a new study "Perils and Possibilities: Growing up online" which is based on an international opinion poll of more than 10,000 18-year-olds from 25 countries. Its findings reveal young people's perspectives on the risks they face growing up in an increasingly connected world.
The new report finds that Two-thirds of 18-year-olds in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean believe children and adolescents are in danger of being sexually abused or taken advantage of online. This compares to 33 percent polled in the Middle East and North Africa.
"The internet and mobile phones have revolutionized young people's access to information, but the poll findings show just how real the risk of online abuse is for girls and boys," UNICEF's Child Protection Officer Clara Sommarin says.
"Globally, one out of every three internet users is a child….UNICEF aims to amplify adolescents' voices to help address online violence, exploitation and abuse, and make sure that children can take full advantage of the benefits the internet and mobile phones offer," she added.
UNICEF.
As part of the effort to engage children and adolescents in ending violence online, UNICEF is launching a drive codenamed #ReplyforAll, which is part of its global End Violence against Children initiative.
The #ReplyForAll campaign makes young people advocates for staying safe on the internet or while using social media. Children and adolescents will be asked to give their advice on the best ways to respond to online violence or risks and to raise awareness among friends through social media.
UNICEF, together with the WePROTECT Global Alliance, is calling on national governments to establish coordinated responses between criminal justice systems including law enforcement, and child welfare, education, health and the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sectors, as well as civil society, to better protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation.
"When young people, governments, families, the ICT sector and communities work together, we are more likely to find the best ways to respond to online sexual abuse and exploitation, and send a strong message that confronting and ending violence against children online - indeed anywhere - is all of our business," UNICEF'S Associate Director of Child Protection, Cornelius William says.