Our research drives child safety solutions
At Thorn, we conduct novel research to strengthen the systems, policies, and technologies that protect children.
Featured Reports
July 2026
Youth Perspectives on Online Safety, 2025
Each year, Thorn surveys 1,000 young people, aged 9-17, about their attitudes and experiences related to a variety of online risks. In 2025, our findings show that their digital worlds remain complex, with many young people navigating potentially harmful online experiences alongside new technologies.
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June 2026
Advancing Response to Sadistic Online Exploitation in Networked Youth Environments
This research examines how sadistic online exploitation (SOE) challenges child safety systems and identifies opportunities to strengthen the coordination of response to better protect young people. The study draws on interviews with more than 30 practitioners across 8 countries.
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Youth-centered research
Our research, collected in the field, provides insights into how youth are experiencing issues like sending nudes and sexting, as well as what motivates their online behaviors. We share our findings with the child safety ecosystem to inform prevention and interventions, and develop resources for parents.
Research topics
Dive into the data and see the latest insights on key topics impacting the child safety ecosystem today. We regularly update these pages with new findings and add additional topics as we conduct more novel research.
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