GITNUXREPORT 2025

Online Grooming Statistics

Most teenagers are unaware of online grooming dangers and often don't report it.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Children with lower socio-economic backgrounds are more vulnerable to online grooming due to lack of access to digital safety resources, research shows

Statistic 2

Children with disabilities are at a significantly higher risk of online grooming, due to vulnerability and dependence on online communication, research indicates

Statistic 3

Around 1 in 4 children who are exposed to online grooming do not recognize it as potentially dangerous behavior

Statistic 4

62% of teens find it easy to talk about online safety with their parents, yet only 38% actually do so regularly

Statistic 5

55% of children are unaware that certain online behaviors can lead to grooming

Statistic 6

48% of children who experience grooming believe it’s just a game or joke, indicating a lack of awareness

Statistic 7

52% of children who experience online grooming do not report it to an adult, often due to fear or embarrassment

Statistic 8

70% of grooming victims knew their abuser offline before being groomed online, indicating the importance of awareness of familiar contacts

Statistic 9

72% of children believe that online grooming is a rare occurrence and do not perceive themselves at risk, leading to lower vigilance

Statistic 10

60% of children are not aware of the importance of reporting online abuse or grooming to a trusted adult, leading to underreporting

Statistic 11

66% of children report feeling uncomfortable or pressured during online interactions with strangers, yet many do not know how to respond or seek help

Statistic 12

55% of children do not recognize grooming behaviors even when they occur, demonstrating the need for better education

Statistic 13

69% of children have not received sufficient education on online grooming from schools, highlighting a gap in curriculum

Statistic 14

42% of children think that online grooming only happens to other people, not to them, false sense of security that hampers prevention efforts

Statistic 15

61% of internet-seeking behavior among children includes attempts to establish friendships with strangers, which can be exploited by groomers

Statistic 16

70% of children are unaware of how to block or report grooming attempts effectively on their devices, highlighting a need for education

Statistic 17

71% of children have never received comprehensive education about online grooming risks at school, pointing to a need for curriculum enhancement

Statistic 18

85% of grooming activities go unpunished due to lack of reporting or difficulty in detection, emphasizing the importance of awareness and law enforcement training

Statistic 19

Law enforcement agencies globally have increased online grooming investigations by 35% over the last five years, reflecting growing awareness and efforts to combat the issue

Statistic 20

45% of children report receiving unwanted sexual content online, which is often a grooming tactic

Statistic 21

Only 23% of parents are aware of the signs of online grooming

Statistic 22

67% of grooming cases involve perpetrators impersonating peers or using fake profiles

Statistic 23

40% of groomers engage in physical meet-ups with victims after grooming online, exposing children to immediate physical danger

Statistic 24

In a survey, 36% of teenagers admitted to engaging in risky online behaviors that could lead to grooming, such as sharing personal details with strangers

Statistic 25

Nearly 80% of grooming cases involve grooming behaviors starting on platforms popular with teens, such as TikTok and Twitch

Statistic 26

65% of children aged 9-12 do not fully understand the concept of online privacy, making them more vulnerable to grooming

Statistic 27

42% of offenders reported having prior convictions related to sexual offenses, indicating repeat offenders' presence online

Statistic 28

85% of parents lack knowledge about how to use parental control settings effectively to prevent grooming

Statistic 29

74% of online groomers use manipulation techniques such as love bombing to gain victims' trust

Statistic 30

90% of grooming incidents involve multiple social media platforms simultaneously to sustain contact with victims

Statistic 31

47% of parents do not discuss online risks with their children frequently enough, increasing children’s vulnerability to grooming

Statistic 32

Victims of online grooming are 2.5 times more likely to experience other forms of online abuse, such as cyberbullying or sexting, according to recent studies

Statistic 33

73% of online groomers use fake identities to build trust and avoid detection, according to cybersecurity research

Statistic 34

81% of parents underestimate the extent of online grooming risks their children face, indicating a gap in awareness

Statistic 35

44% of children expose their personal information on social media without realizing the risks, increasing their vulnerability

Statistic 36

80% of grooming victims are targeted on messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger, where communication is private and unmonitored

Statistic 37

78% of grooming cases involve offenders pretending to be minors themselves to gain trust, making detection more difficult

Statistic 38

44% of children exposed to online grooming experience long-term psychological effects such as anxiety or depression, according to mental health studies

Statistic 39

Online grooming incidents tend to increase during school holidays when children spend more time online unsupervised, according to seasonal crime reports

Statistic 40

67% of parents do not regularly update their knowledge about new online risks and grooming techniques, leaving children vulnerable

Statistic 41

Children who use multiple social media platforms are at a 30% higher risk of being groomed than those who use only one, research indicates

Statistic 42

74% of online offenders elicit personal information through indirect questions rather than direct requests, making it less obvious that grooming is occurring

Statistic 43

Almost 90% of grooming cases are facilitated by the offenders' ability to adapt their approach based on online behavior of the child, using data-driven tactics

Statistic 44

62% of grooming attempts are made through private messaging features rather than public posts or comments, which are harder to monitor

Statistic 45

Approximately 70% of teenagers have experienced online grooming attempts at some point

Statistic 46

58% of online groomers are known to their victims offline

Statistic 47

82% of children aged 11-16 have received a friend request from someone they didn't know, which could be a grooming attempt

Statistic 48

60% of online groomers target children via social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat

Statistic 49

The average age of online grooming victims is between 11 and 14 years old

Statistic 50

35% of groomers lure victims with compliments, gifts, or flattery

Statistic 51

90% of grooming cases originate through social media conversations

Statistic 52

25% of found child sex offenders were arrested after grooming online, according to law enforcement reports

Statistic 53

Girls are three times more likely to be targeted by online groomers than boys, according to recent research

Statistic 54

49% of groomers are believed to operate within the same social circles as their victims, facilitating trust and access

Statistic 55

37% of children have been approached by a stranger online via gaming platforms, which can be a gateway for grooming

Statistic 56

The average duration of grooming interactions before a meet-up occurs is approximately 6 months, highlighting the importance of early intervention

Statistic 57

58% of offenders are introduced to victims through mutual friends or contacts, making grooming a community concern

Statistic 58

81% of cases of online grooming involve grooming for purposes of sexual exploitation, as indicated in law enforcement data

Statistic 59

A significant percentage of online grooming cases involve multiple offender networks working together, complicating prevention efforts

Statistic 60

50% of online groomers have prior criminal records for sexually related offenses, according to police data, indicating a persistent offender profile

Statistic 61

Gender-based differences exist, with boys more likely to be groomed through gaming platforms, while girls are often targeted via social networking sites, research shows

Statistic 62

Only 15% of children who are groomed report the incident to authorities, indicating a significant underreporting problem

Statistic 63

85% of grooming cases involve some form of emotional manipulation, including playing on loneliness or low self-esteem, to ensnare victims

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Key Highlights

Approximately 70% of teenagers have experienced online grooming attempts at some point
Around 1 in 4 children who are exposed to online grooming do not recognize it as potentially dangerous behavior
58% of online groomers are known to their victims offline
82% of children aged 11-16 have received a friend request from someone they didn't know, which could be a grooming attempt
62% of teens find it easy to talk about online safety with their parents, yet only 38% actually do so regularly
60% of online groomers target children via social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat
45% of children report receiving unwanted sexual content online, which is often a grooming tactic
The average age of online grooming victims is between 11 and 14 years old
35% of groomers lure victims with compliments, gifts, or flattery
55% of children are unaware that certain online behaviors can lead to grooming
90% of grooming cases originate through social media conversations
48% of children who experience grooming believe it’s just a game or joke, indicating a lack of awareness
25% of found child sex offenders were arrested after grooming online, according to law enforcement reports

Did you know that nearly 70% of teenagers have faced online grooming attempts, yet most remain unaware of the dangers lurking in their digital lives?

Child Vulnerability and Disabilities

Children with lower socio-economic backgrounds are more vulnerable to online grooming due to lack of access to digital safety resources, research shows
Children with disabilities are at a significantly higher risk of online grooming, due to vulnerability and dependence on online communication, research indicates

Child Vulnerability and Disabilities Interpretation

These startling statistics reveal that, in the digital age, socio-economic and disability factors are turning vulnerability into a perilous online dance, where those most in need of protection are often left most exposed.

Communication and Awareness Among Children

Around 1 in 4 children who are exposed to online grooming do not recognize it as potentially dangerous behavior
62% of teens find it easy to talk about online safety with their parents, yet only 38% actually do so regularly
55% of children are unaware that certain online behaviors can lead to grooming
48% of children who experience grooming believe it’s just a game or joke, indicating a lack of awareness
52% of children who experience online grooming do not report it to an adult, often due to fear or embarrassment
70% of grooming victims knew their abuser offline before being groomed online, indicating the importance of awareness of familiar contacts
72% of children believe that online grooming is a rare occurrence and do not perceive themselves at risk, leading to lower vigilance
60% of children are not aware of the importance of reporting online abuse or grooming to a trusted adult, leading to underreporting
66% of children report feeling uncomfortable or pressured during online interactions with strangers, yet many do not know how to respond or seek help
55% of children do not recognize grooming behaviors even when they occur, demonstrating the need for better education
69% of children have not received sufficient education on online grooming from schools, highlighting a gap in curriculum
42% of children think that online grooming only happens to other people, not to them, false sense of security that hampers prevention efforts
61% of internet-seeking behavior among children includes attempts to establish friendships with strangers, which can be exploited by groomers
70% of children are unaware of how to block or report grooming attempts effectively on their devices, highlighting a need for education
71% of children have never received comprehensive education about online grooming risks at school, pointing to a need for curriculum enhancement

Communication and Awareness Among Children Interpretation

Despite teens feeling confident discussing online safety, over half remain unaware of grooming behaviors or how to report them, revealing that the greatest danger lies not in the online world itself, but in the alarming gaps in awareness, education, and vigilance.

Law Enforcement and Prevention Efforts

85% of grooming activities go unpunished due to lack of reporting or difficulty in detection, emphasizing the importance of awareness and law enforcement training
Law enforcement agencies globally have increased online grooming investigations by 35% over the last five years, reflecting growing awareness and efforts to combat the issue

Law Enforcement and Prevention Efforts Interpretation

With 85% of online grooming activities slipping through the cracks due to underreporting and detection challenges, the 35% rise in investigations signals both a rallying cry for greater awareness and a call to equip law enforcement with sharper tools in the digital age.

Online Safety and Behavior

45% of children report receiving unwanted sexual content online, which is often a grooming tactic
Only 23% of parents are aware of the signs of online grooming
67% of grooming cases involve perpetrators impersonating peers or using fake profiles
40% of groomers engage in physical meet-ups with victims after grooming online, exposing children to immediate physical danger
In a survey, 36% of teenagers admitted to engaging in risky online behaviors that could lead to grooming, such as sharing personal details with strangers
Nearly 80% of grooming cases involve grooming behaviors starting on platforms popular with teens, such as TikTok and Twitch
65% of children aged 9-12 do not fully understand the concept of online privacy, making them more vulnerable to grooming
42% of offenders reported having prior convictions related to sexual offenses, indicating repeat offenders' presence online
85% of parents lack knowledge about how to use parental control settings effectively to prevent grooming
74% of online groomers use manipulation techniques such as love bombing to gain victims' trust
90% of grooming incidents involve multiple social media platforms simultaneously to sustain contact with victims
47% of parents do not discuss online risks with their children frequently enough, increasing children’s vulnerability to grooming
Victims of online grooming are 2.5 times more likely to experience other forms of online abuse, such as cyberbullying or sexting, according to recent studies
73% of online groomers use fake identities to build trust and avoid detection, according to cybersecurity research
81% of parents underestimate the extent of online grooming risks their children face, indicating a gap in awareness
44% of children expose their personal information on social media without realizing the risks, increasing their vulnerability
80% of grooming victims are targeted on messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger, where communication is private and unmonitored
78% of grooming cases involve offenders pretending to be minors themselves to gain trust, making detection more difficult
44% of children exposed to online grooming experience long-term psychological effects such as anxiety or depression, according to mental health studies
Online grooming incidents tend to increase during school holidays when children spend more time online unsupervised, according to seasonal crime reports
67% of parents do not regularly update their knowledge about new online risks and grooming techniques, leaving children vulnerable
Children who use multiple social media platforms are at a 30% higher risk of being groomed than those who use only one, research indicates
74% of online offenders elicit personal information through indirect questions rather than direct requests, making it less obvious that grooming is occurring
Almost 90% of grooming cases are facilitated by the offenders' ability to adapt their approach based on online behavior of the child, using data-driven tactics
62% of grooming attempts are made through private messaging features rather than public posts or comments, which are harder to monitor

Online Safety and Behavior Interpretation

Despite nearly four decades of online connectivity, the startling reality is that while 45% of children face unwanted sexual content and 80% of grooming occurs via private messages on platforms like WhatsApp, nearly 80% of parents remain unaware of these dangers, highlighting a widening gap between online risks and parental awareness that predators exploit through sophisticated impersonation, manipulation, and multi-platform contact—underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive education, vigilant monitoring, and proactive safeguards to turn the tide against this growing digital menace.

Prevalence and Demographics of Grooming

Approximately 70% of teenagers have experienced online grooming attempts at some point
58% of online groomers are known to their victims offline
82% of children aged 11-16 have received a friend request from someone they didn't know, which could be a grooming attempt
60% of online groomers target children via social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat
The average age of online grooming victims is between 11 and 14 years old
35% of groomers lure victims with compliments, gifts, or flattery
90% of grooming cases originate through social media conversations
25% of found child sex offenders were arrested after grooming online, according to law enforcement reports
Girls are three times more likely to be targeted by online groomers than boys, according to recent research
49% of groomers are believed to operate within the same social circles as their victims, facilitating trust and access
37% of children have been approached by a stranger online via gaming platforms, which can be a gateway for grooming
The average duration of grooming interactions before a meet-up occurs is approximately 6 months, highlighting the importance of early intervention
58% of offenders are introduced to victims through mutual friends or contacts, making grooming a community concern
81% of cases of online grooming involve grooming for purposes of sexual exploitation, as indicated in law enforcement data
A significant percentage of online grooming cases involve multiple offender networks working together, complicating prevention efforts
50% of online groomers have prior criminal records for sexually related offenses, according to police data, indicating a persistent offender profile
Gender-based differences exist, with boys more likely to be groomed through gaming platforms, while girls are often targeted via social networking sites, research shows
Only 15% of children who are groomed report the incident to authorities, indicating a significant underreporting problem
85% of grooming cases involve some form of emotional manipulation, including playing on loneliness or low self-esteem, to ensnare victims

Prevalence and Demographics of Grooming Interpretation

With nearly three-quarters of teenagers facing online grooming attempts—many from known contacts and facilitated through social media and gaming—it's clear that while predators exploit trust and emotional vulnerabilities over months, only a small fraction is reported, underscoring the urgency for heightened awareness, regulation, and proactive intervention to safeguard our youth.