Children Abuse and Sexual Harassment in the Digital Space

The digital environment has intensified manifestations of child sexual abuse and exploitation, with more than 300 million children estimated to be victims annually. (ohchr, 2024) In the United States, approximately 15.6% of individuals have experienced online child sexual abuse, highlighting the pervasive nature of this issue. (Finkelhor, Turner, & Colburn, 2022) The accessibility of explicit content online further exacerbates the problem, normalizing extreme and harmful sexual practices among adolescents. (Thomson, 2025)

Why Parental Control is Needed in the Digital Landscape Nowadays

Given that 93% of adolescents recognize the need to change their screen time habits, (Castro, 2025) and considering the vast amount of inappropriate content accessible online, (Layne, n.d.)implementing parental controls is essential to safeguard children from potential online dangers.

What Could Be Done?

To protect children in the digital realm, the following measures are recommended:

• Education: Teach children about online risks and safe internet practices. (Unicef, n.d.)

• Open Communication: Encourage discussions between parents and children regarding their digital experiences. (Unicef, n.d.)

• Guidelines and Limits: Establish clear rules and screen time restrictions for internet usage. (Tanase, n.d.)

• Advanced Tools: Utilize sophisticated parental control tools to monitor and filter content. (Digit, 2024)

• Collaboration: Work with technology companies to develop safer online platforms. (Unicef, n.d.)

Technology That Supports Parental Control

Several technological solutions can assist parents in managing and protecting their children's digital experiences:

• Content Filtering: Blocks access to inappropriate websites and explicit material.

• Time Management: Limits screen time to prevent excessive device usage.

• Monitoring Software: Tracks online activity, including messages and browsing history.

• AI-Based Alerts: Detects suspicious activities, such as interactions with unknown contacts. (Team, 2024)

• GPS Tracking: Allows parents to locate their children in real-time, ensuring physical safety. (Sellman, 2025)

It's Not Enough with Just Technology That Only Supports Time Usage or Blocking Content

While setting screen time restrictions and blocking harmful content are essential measures, they are not enough. Tech-savvy children often find ways to bypass restrictions, and determined predators continuously adapt to avoid detection. Parental control solutions should go beyond these basic functions by incorporating real-time monitoring, AI-driven behavior analysis, and comprehensive reporting to give parents deeper insights into their child's online behavior. (Stoilova, Monica, & Livingstone, 2023)

Technology That Manipulates Search Results and Content

One of the most advanced ways to ensure a safer digital space for children is through technology that manipulates search results and content exposure. This involves:

• Custom Search Filtering: Altering search engine results to remove harmful or misleading content.

• AI-Powered Content Moderation: Automatically flagging and filtering inappropriate posts and discussions on social media and forums.

• Context-Based Blocking: Using AI to understand the context of digital content and proactively prevent exposure to harmful material. (Odudu, 2024)

Conclusion

The digital world presents unprecedented challenges for child safety, making parental control a necessity rather than an option. While technology plays a crucial role in protecting children, it should be complemented with parental guidance, education, and responsible online behavior. As threats continue to evolve, so should the methods we use to safeguard the next generation from digital harm. Investing in advanced parental control technologies, alongside open dialogue and awareness, is the key to creating a safer online environment for children.

References

Castro, S. (2025, February 24). El 60% de los adolescentes sabe sortear el control parental en el entorno digital. Retrieved from elpais.com: https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-02-24/el-60-de-los-adolescentes-sabe-sortear-el-control-parental-en-el-entorno-digital.html?

Digit, T. (2024, October 22). Online safety for children: Guide for parental controls and monitoring tools. Retrieved from digit.in: https://www.digit.in/features/general/online-safety-for-children-guide-for-parental-controls-and-monitoring-tools.html?

Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., & Colburn, D. (2022, January 1). Prevalence of online sexual offenses against children in the US. Retrieved from ojp.gov: https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/prevalence-online-sexual-offenses-against-children-us-0?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Layne, J. (n.d.). Pros and Cons of Parental Controls. Retrieved from ablison.com: https://www.ablison.com/pros-and-cons-of-parental-controls/?

Odudu, Q. (2024). Technological Solutions for Protecting Children From Online Predators: Current Trends and Future Directions. SSRN, 59.

ohchr. (2024, October 11). Children facing higher risk of sexual abuse and exploitation from misuse of technologies: Special Rapporteur. Retrieved from ohchr.org: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/10/children-facing-higher-risk-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation-misuse

Sellman, M. (2025, March 2). 'Safe' Smartphone for children blocks harmful content automatically. Retrieved from thetimes.com: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/technology-uk/article/safe-smartphone-for-children-blocks-harmful-content-automatically-8rv99pgcd

Stoilova, M., M. B., & Livingstone, S. (2023, October 29). Do parental control tools fulfil family expectations for child protection? A rapid evidence review of the contexts and outcomes of use. Retrieved from tandfonline.com: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17482798.2023.2265512?

Tanase, A. (n.d.). The Importance of Parental Controls and Time Restrictions on Digital Devices. Retrieved from familyorbit.com: https://www.familyorbit.com/blog/importance-of-parental-controls/?

Team, s. (2024, March 4). Protecting Children Online: Navigating the Dangers of AI. Retrieved from successfulblackparenting.com: https://successfulblackparenting.com/2024/03/04/protecting-children-online-navigating-the-dangers-of-ai/

Thomson, A. (2025, February 28). 'it Breaks My Heart':Tory peer on the damage done by violent porn. Retrieved from thetimes.com: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/it-breaks-my-heart-tory-peer-on-the-damage-done-by-violent-porn-x0srn5ff9?

Unicef. (n.d.). Protecting children online. Retrieved from unicef.org: https://www.unicef.org/protection/violence-against-children-online