The “Youth Perspectives on Online Safety, 2024” report, published by Thorn in partnership with Burson, synthesizes annual monitoring research on the online experiences and risks faced by U.S. minors aged 9-17. The study covers four main areas: the evolving digital landscape, exposure to potentially harmful online experiences, attitudes and behaviors related to
Self-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (SG-CSAM), and minors’ strategies for responding to online threats. The findings highlight several positive trends, notably a multi-year decline in both the number of minors sharing their own SG-CSAM and the perception that such sharing is normal. However, the research reveals growing risks for
younger boys (ages 9-12), particularly concerning increases in being solicited with online sexual advances. The report also emphasizes that minors who engage in risky behaviors are less likely to have support from a trusted adult.
