Warning Bells Ring as device usage and child exploitation soar,.
Online incidences of child sexual exploitation predominantly take place in digital spaces
By Jason Lee / Staff reporter
A staggering 70% of reported child sexual exploitation cases in the past year entailed online activities, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. In a chilling revelation, 50% of the suspects were found to be minors themselves.
Director-General of the Department of Protective Services, Chang Hsiu-yuan, highlighted these alarming statistics at a press conference. She warned of the potential risks to children's safety, particularly in arguments over electronic device usage that escalated to corporal punishment in 16% of cases.
Chang shed light on the prevalence of children sharing sexual images without consent, accounting for 90% of cases committed by minors. Alarmingly, she revealed that about half of all children who use social media are unaware of privacy setting adjustments, citing a study by Taiwan Fund for Children and Families. This underscores the importance of vigilant parental oversight in children's online engagement.
The average daily internet usage by Taiwanese children has risen to 3.96 hours from 3.17 hours over the past four years, while the average age of their first internet exposure has dropped to 7.1 years from 8.7 years. Spectators of these trends can't help but echo concerns about their potential impact on the mental health of youth.
Research by Childlight suggests that one in eight children worldwide has experienced Internet-enabled sexual exploitation, encompassing cases of human trafficking, privacy breaches, and harassment.
Recent studies across Taiwan and the US reveal links between device usage and escalated mental health risks in adolescents. Female adolescents, in particular, appear to be significantly impacted. Red flags for online predators include building relationships with children they haven't met in real life, inappropriate conversation starters, and requests for personal information, photographs, or videos.
Teachers and parents must collaborate to moderate children's internet exposure, enhance media literacy, and offer more emotional support, experts advise. Parental examples of responsible internet use can help children develop healthy behaviors, and firm limits on usage are crucial to prevent devices from being used as replacements for human interaction.
Asia University Vice President, Ko Hui-chen, admonished that studies have shown mental health risks associated with excessive device usage in young people. Decreasing social media use is linked to improved mental health, Ko continues, emphasizing the need for a coordinated effort from educators and parents to address this growing issue.
References
- Cha et al. (2023). Smartphone addiction among Korean adolescents: Prevalence and associated risk factors.
- Ybarra et al. (2022). Mental health and social media: Predictors of well-being outcomes and online negativity among US adolescents. Pediatrics.
- Khoury et al. (2025). Digital technology dependence in youth with depression and self-harm: Correlates, consequences, and clinical implications. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health.
- Liu et al. (2025). Hospital-based analysis of adolescent self-poisoning associated with device dependence. Journal of Adolescent Health.
According to Chang Hsiu-yuan, Director-General of the Department of Protective Services, more than half of the suspects in child sexual exploitation cases were found to be minors themselves.In the study by Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, about half of all children who use social media are unaware of privacy setting adjustments.Research by Childlight indicates that one in eight children worldwide has experienced Internet-enabled sexual exploitation.Red flags for online predators include building relationships with children they haven't met in real life, inappropriate conversation starters, and requests for personal information, photographs, or videos.Teachers and parents should collaborate to moderate children's internet exposure, enhance media literacy, and offer more emotional support, experts suggest.Experts warn that excessive device usage in young people can lead to mental health risks, with female adolescents being significantly impacted.Asia University Vice President, Ko Hui-chen, emphasizes the need for a coordinated effort from educators and parents to address the growing mental health issues associated with excessive device usage in adolescents.Decreasing social media use is linked to improved mental health, according to the research by Ko Hui-chen.*Studies conducted in Taiwan and the US reveal links between device usage and escalated mental health risks in adolescents. This highlights the importance of vigilant parental oversight in children's online engagement, in addition to collaborative efforts between educators, parents, and technology companies to address these concerns and promote a healthier digital environment for children.
