By the end of this year, child advocates say there will be more reports of children being sexually exploited online than in any other year in the past.

Reports come in across the country to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children through the center’s cyber tip line.

Exploitation can range from stalking, to pornography, to child sex trafficking.

Last year, the center had more than 36 million exploitation reports from across the country.

“These numbers are unacceptable,” said Callahan Walsh, executive director of the center’s Florida branch.

Walsh said reports of exploitation have been steadily increasing year over year, and said his branch is constantly working with local law enforcement, giving them new cases to investigate on a daily basis.

Walsh said the increase in reports began during the pandemic as more predators hid behind computer screens, leading Florida to have some of the highest reports of exploitation, with more than 45,000 reports to the center last year .

Walsh said they have even found predators working together to target children online.

“I’ve seen discussions on the dark web between these exploiters, sharing tips on how to exploit children, how to care for them, how to lure them away from home,” Walsh said. “…We must come together as a society to protect children.”

Walsh explained that the average age a child gets a phone now is 10, and said parents being more vigilant, setting rules and educating their children about the dangers of talking to strangers online can reduce the thousands of reports of the center. goes through every day.

Content for Scripps 2024 only