1 in 3 young boys are targeted online: What the new 2024 Youth Perspectives data tells us

There are many online platforms where boys go to build worlds, compete with friends, and simply be kids. But our 2024 research reveals a troubling reality: these digital playgrounds are also places where perpetrators specifically target younger boys.

Every year, Thorn conducts comprehensive research to understand the evolving landscape of online risks facing young people. Our annual Youth Perspectives Report is grounded in the voices and experiences of youth themselves. We surveyed thousands of minors across the United States to capture the reality of growing up online, because a critical part of protecting children is to listen to them.

The 2024 report reveals troubling findings that demand immediate attention: younger boys, ages 9-to-12, are experiencing a striking rate of harmful online sexual interactions. 

A new victim profile — younger boys face a growing risk

The numbers are stark and urgent. In 2024, one in three (33%) boys aged 9-to-12 reported having an online sexual interaction. This is the highest rate we’ve recorded since starting to gather data five years ago.

But the risks extend far beyond sexual content. Nearly three in five (59%) younger boys reported feeling bullied or made uncomfortable online. These aren’t isolated incidents—they represent a concerning pattern of increased targeting and harassment.

Behind the screen — how these risks play out

What makes this data particularly concerning is that it represents a shift in predatory tactics, not changes in boys’ behavior. The data shows that 9-to-12-year-old boys are not engaging in riskier online activities—in fact, their rates of sharing intimate images remained virtually unchanged from 2023 (-3% for sharing their own content, -3% for sharing others’ content).

Instead, perpetrators appear to be increasingly intentional in how they identify and target younger male victims. They’re casting wider nets across platforms where boys feel safest, including gaming environments, social platforms, and messaging apps where they can build private relationships.

The data reveals exactly how these harmful interactions are unfolding. Two large reporting increases among younger boys were in “being sent sexual messages” (+12%) and “being asked to send a nude photo or video” (+9%). Crucially, both of these experiences involve being contacted and solicited by someone else, not initiating risky behavior themselves. In fact, 1 in 3 (30%) 9-to-12-year-olds reported having an online sexual interaction with someone they believed to be an adult, trending up nine percentage points since 2020. 

Perpetrators may initially engage boys through shared gaming interests, offer virtual gifts or game loot, or present themselves as peers facing similar challenges. This trust-building phase makes the eventual sexual solicitation more likely to succeed and harder for boys to recognize as predatory.

The multi-faceted nature of these attacks—combining sexual solicitation with bullying, manipulation, and emotional coercion—creates a perfect storm of vulnerability. Unlike older teens who may have developed some digital literacy around anonymous online contacts, younger boys often lack the experience to recognize when friendly online interactions are actually grooming tactics.

This targeting could explain why the reported rate of online sexual interactions are the highest we’ve seen, and why they’re happening despite no change in boys’ risk-taking behaviors. Perpetrators have identified a vulnerable population and are systematically exploiting their access to this age group.

Why they’re not asking for help

The heartbreaking thing is that these targeted boys are suffering in silence. Our research reveals a devastating gap between the harm occurring and child victims seeking support—a gap that leaves children vulnerable to continued exploitation.

The numbers paint a stark picture of isolation. One in five (20%) minors who experienced an online sexual interaction didn’t tell anyone about it. Among this same group, only 60% reported having a trusted adult they could turn to if they faced a serious problem.

This trust gap is even more pronounced among the very groups facing the highest risks. Boys are significantly less likely than girls to seek help or disclose harmful online experiences. LGBTQ+ youth, who already face elevated online risks, are the least likely of all to turn to a trusted adult, with only 51% reporting they have someone they could confide in.

The children being targeted most are the least likely to ask for help.

What makes this silence even more concerning is that it’s getting worse over time. The likelihood of a minor turning to a trusted adult after having an online sexual interaction has dropped 10 percentage points since 2022, suggesting that existing support systems are failing to reach the children who need them most.

This creates a dangerous cycle: abusers target younger boys who are less likely to report the abuse, and this silence enables continued exploitation. Boys may feel shame about being victimized, worry they won’t be believed, or fear being blamed for the interaction. Many may not even recognize that what happened to them was predatory behavior, especially when it began with seemingly innocent gaming or social interactions.

The data reveals that the children facing the greatest online risks are often those with the most barriers to trusted adult support, creating an environment where perpetrators can operate with impunity while their victims remain isolated and vulnerable.

What we can do

The data is clear, but so is the path forward. Protecting younger boys from online perpetrators requires coordinated action across multiple fronts—from the platforms where these interactions occur to the homes where these children need support.

Platforms must recognize that younger boys are targets, not just older teens. Safety features, content moderation, and detection systems have often been designed with teenage girls in mind, reflecting older assumptions about who faces online sexual risks. Gaming platforms where younger boys spend a significant amount of time require robust safeguards against predatory contact. This means better age verification, smarter detection of grooming patterns, and immediate intervention when adults attempt to move conversations to private channels.

Parents and caregivers need tools and language to start these conversations early. Many adults assume boys are naturally “more resilient” to online perpetrators or that these conversations can wait until the teenage years. The data shows otherwise. Caregivers need age-appropriate resources to discuss online safety with boys as young as nine, helping them recognize when friendly gaming interactions cross into inappropriate territory.

We must create trusted pathways for boys to seek help. The declining rates of help-seeking among boys experiencing online sexual interactions signal that our current support systems are failing. Schools, community organizations, and online platforms need to develop male-friendly reporting mechanisms and ensure boys know they won’t be blamed or shamed for being victimized.

Finally, we must invest in continued research and data-driven solutions. Thorn identified this alarming threat because of ongoing monitoring of youth experiences online. As abusers adapt their tactics, our understanding and responses must evolve as well. Supporting organizations that listen directly to young people’s experiences is critical to staying ahead of emerging threats.

The data has put to rest the myth that boys are naturally resistant and resilient online

Boys—especially younger boys—are vulnerable, they are being systematically targeted, and they deserve the same protection and support we would demand for any child facing exploitation.

This research is a call to action for platforms to build better safeguards, for parents to start difficult conversations earlier, and for policymakers to ensure that child protection laws and resources reflect the reality of who is being harmed online.

The 2024 data shows us that younger and more vulnerable children are seeing increased exposure to harmful online interactions. Our response must be swift and coordinated. These boys are counting on us to listen, to act, and to ensure that they are safe to play games, watch videos, and just be kids online.

Additional resources

• Explore the report to see all the data from study.
• Learn how to support your child at Thorn for Parents
• Donate to support youth-led safety innovation.