Savić: "Three children in every class are victims of online sexual abuse"

While parents believe their children are safe in the warmth of their homes, situations often unfold behind phone screens that go unnoticed – and unreported. The latest UNICEF research shows that one in ten children aged 12 to 17 have experienced some form of sexual exploitation or abuse online.

"When we translate that into a classroom of 30 students, we are talking about at least three children who had this experience," warned digital forensics expert and court expert Balša Savić on Boje jutra, on TV Vijesti, emphasizing the seriousness of the problem.

The research showed that bullying does not occur exclusively online, but often involves a combination of digital and real-world interactions. As UNICEF representative Nada Đurović Martinović explains, there are different forms of abuse.

"This includes sending sexually explicit content without consent, blackmail, offering money or gifts, and also abusing artificial intelligence tools to create false but harmful content," she said.

What is particularly worrying is the fact that most children do not talk about it.

"As many as 60% of children have not reported violence to anyone, either out of shame or because they do not recognize that it is a problem. In a certain number of cases, such behavior is normalized among them," says Đurović-Martinović.

The Internet, experts warn, provides an ideal environment for perpetrators.

"Children are constantly online, and predators easily pose as peers or trusted people. There are those who act quickly, but there are also those who spend months building a relationship with a child before abusing them," explains Savić.

The problem is further complicated by the fact that children grow up with technology and do not have a developed sense of danger.

"For them, it's a natural environment and they often don't see danger where it actually exists," he adds.

The interviewees in Boje jutra emphasized the great responsibility that parents also bear, but they admit that it is not easy for them to keep up with modern challenges.

"We have allowed children to be educated by social media. It is not a matter of privacy, the parent must know what the child is doing online," says Savić, recommending clear rules, including limiting phone use in the evening.

However, the responsibility cannot rest solely with the family. UNICEF says that digital platforms must take a more active role in protecting children.

"Platforms need to be redesigned to prevent abuse, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence tools that can generate harmful content," emphasizes Đurović Martinović.

As a long-term solution, experts see a combination of education, strengthening the legal framework, and more accessible reporting mechanisms.