Overview
Our research combines data from multiple reputable sources including law enforcement agencies, child safety organizations, sports governing bodies, and academic studies to present a clear picture of online risks faced by vulnerable populations. We examine online abuse targeting professional athletes and public figures, alongside the alarming rise in online grooming and sextortion cases affecting children. These findings highlight the urgent need for better protection measures across all demographics.
Online Abuse Against Athletes & Public Figures
Professional athletes face unprecedented levels of online harassment, with abuse intensifying during major tournaments. Research from FIFA, FIFPRO, and World Athletics reveals systemic patterns of discriminatory behavior targeting players based on performance, race, and gender.
40+
languages covered by FIFA's Social Media Protection Service across 211 member associations
Source: Reuters90%+
reduction in athlete exposure to discriminatory content through automated moderation
Source: FIFAPlayer Abuse Rates at Major Tournaments
Percentage of players receiving discriminatory abuse on social media during tournament finals
Source: FIFA and FIFPRO studies on social media abuse during EURO 2020, AFCON 2021, and World Cup tournaments
Gender Disparity in Athlete Targeting
Women athletes face significantly higher rates of online abuse compared to their male counterparts
Source: FIFA World Cup data showing 29% higher targeting rate for women athletes
Key Findings
- •Discrimination is widespread: Over half of all players in major tournament finals experience discriminatory abuse, with racism being the most common form.
- •Women face disproportionate targeting: Female athletes are 29% more likely to receive abuse than male athletes, with 30% of abuse being sexualized in nature.
- •Automated moderation is effective: FIFA's Social Media Protection Service has hidden 2.6 million abusive comments and reduced athlete exposure to harmful content by over 90%.
- •Tournament intensity correlates with abuse: Abuse rates increase during high-stakes matches, with AFCON 2021 and EURO 2020 seeing over 50% of players targeted.
Protection at Scale
FIFA's Social Media Protection Service now covers all 211 member associations, monitoring content in 40+ languages and auto-hiding abuse before athletes see it. Independent studies confirm that automated moderation reduces athlete exposure to discriminatory content by over 90%, demonstrating that AI-powered protection systems can effectively shield public figures from the worst forms of online harassment.
Online Abuse Against Women & Influencers
Women with public online profiles—including influencers, content creators, journalists, and athletes—face dramatically higher rates of online abuse, harassment, and threats compared to the general population. Research from UNESCO, Pew Research Center, and eSafety Commissioner reveals systemic patterns of gender-based violence targeting women in public-facing roles.
73%
of women journalists have faced online violence, with 25% receiving physical threats and 18% sexual threats
Source: UNESCO1 in 3
women experience online abuse in a work context, with higher rates for those with public online/media profiles
Source: eSafety Commissioner3× Higher
Women are three times more likely than men to experience sexual harassment online (16% vs 5%)
Source: Pew Research Center36%
of women under 40 have received unsolicited sexual photos, with 67% arriving via social media
Source: YouGov7.1%
of tweets sent to women politicians and journalists are abusive or problematic
Source: Amnesty International84% More
Black women are 84% more likely to be targeted with abusive tweets than white women
Source: Amnesty InternationalSexual Harassment Rates by Gender
Women experience sexual harassment online at dramatically higher rates, with young women under 35 facing the highest risk
Source: Pew Research Center study on online harassment patterns
Key Findings
- •Public-facing women are disproportionately targeted: Women with public online or media profiles (creators, influencers, journalists) experience significantly higher rates of abuse compared to the general population.
- •Sexual harassment is pervasive: Women are three times more likely than men to experience sexual harassment online, with rates reaching 1 in 3 for women under 35.
- •Physical and sexual threats are common: Among women journalists who face online violence, 25% receive direct physical threats and 18% receive sexual threats—a pattern similar across public-facing roles.
- •Intersectionality matters: Black women are 84% more likely to be targeted with abusive content than white women, highlighting how racism and sexism compound online.
- •DMs are a primary attack vector: 67% of unsolicited sexual images arrive via social media, with Instagram reporting that high-profile women are "bombarded" with abusive content through direct messages.
Direct Message Risk
Instagram has implemented explicit-image blocking in DM requests after high-profile women reported being bombarded with abusive and sexually explicit content. The platform acknowledges that women with public profiles face persistent harassment through direct messaging, with cyberflashing (unsolicited sexual images) being a widespread problem. 67% of such images are sent via social media platforms, making DM protection essential for influencers and public figures.
Source: The Guardian
Key Trends in Online Exploitation
Pandemic Catalyst
- COVID-19 lockdowns created a perfect storm for online exploitation
- Predators exploited increased online presence and decreased supervision
- Post-pandemic, exploitation rates continued to rise despite return to normal activities
Digital Platform Shifts
- Migration from public forums to private messaging
- Grooming cases now quickly move to private chats
- Increased use of ephemeral messaging apps that delete content automatically
Why These Trends Matter
Understanding these shifting trends is vital for creating effective protection systems. Guardii's technology specifically targets the private messaging environments where children are most vulnerable, using advanced AI to detect patterns that human monitoring might miss.
Global Impact
Regional Analysis
North America
186K+ reports in 2023
Highest reporting capabilities with thousands of grooming and sextortion reports
FBI issued nationwide alerts due to "explosion" of sextortion cases
NCMEC reported a 132% increase in grooming cases from 2022 to 2023
Online exploitation is a global problem requiring coordinated international responses. While some regions have more robust reporting systems, all areas face significant challenges that require technological solutions like Guardii to detect and prevent harm.
Law Enforcement Responses
Law enforcement agencies worldwide are struggling to keep pace with the explosion in online exploitation cases:
Average Case Time
Time required for online grooming case investigation
Cross-Border Cases
Typical time to resolve international exploitation cases
Prosecution Rate
Of reported grooming cases result in successful prosecution
Sextortion Prosecutions
Even lower prosecution rate for sextortion cases
Resource Shortage
Of agencies report being understaffed for digital crimes
These statistics highlight the critical need for preventative measures like Guardii that can stop exploitation before it occurs rather than relying solely on after-the-fact law enforcement.
Grooming Strategies & Linguistic Analysis
Research by Black et al. (2015) analyzing conversations between online predators and targets reveals several key grooming strategies:
Rapid Trust Development
Predators quickly establish trust through excessive compliments, showing interest in the child's problems, and providing emotional support.
Identity Deception
Appearing relatable by pretending to be younger, sharing similar interests, or creating false backgrounds to gain trust.
Sexual Desensitization
Gradually introducing sexual topics in conversation to normalize inappropriate discussions and content over time.
Isolation Tactics
Encouraging secrecy from parents and friends, positioning themselves as the only person who understands the child.
Boundary Testing
Consistently testing limits to gauge compliance levels and assess how far they can push the child.
The research highlights that online grooming is not strictly linear but often involves multiple tactics simultaneously. These insights inform Guardii's approach to detecting potentially harmful conversations.
Protection Recommendations
Protection Recommendations
of exploitation occurs in private messaging
Focus on Direct Messaging
83% of exploitation occurs in private messaging environments, making these platforms critical for protection efforts.
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Statistical Evidence
Online Grooming Statistics
Grooming incidents have shown an alarming increase year over year, with experts concerned that reported cases represent only a fraction of actual occurrences.
*2024 and 2025 data projected based on current trends
Increase in reported cases (2020-2023)
Reported grooming cases in 2023
Increase from 2022 to 2023
Projected cases for 2025
Estimated reporting rate (90% unreported)
Sextortion Statistics
Financial sextortion has emerged as a rapidly growing threat, particularly targeting teenage boys through social media and gaming platforms.
*2024 data projected based on current trends
Increase in financial sextortion (2022-2023)
Financial sextortion reports in 2023
Primary targets of financial sextortion
FBI sextortion complaints in 2020
Risk level projected for 2024
Why These Statistics Matter
The dramatic rise in both grooming and sextortion cases demonstrates the urgent need for better protection systems. Current safety measures are insufficient given the scale and growth of these threats.
Research Sources
These sources have been carefully selected to provide a comprehensive and accurate overview of online child safety threats. The information and statistics used throughout this research page are derived from these reputable organizations and studies.