The Online World Our Youth Are Navigating: Why Awareness and Trust Matter
New research highlights the importance of prevention, open communication, and creating safe spaces where young people feel comfortable asking for help.
Young people today are growing up in a world where connection is only a click away. Social media, online gaming, messaging platforms, and emerging technologies offer opportunities to learn, communicate, and build relationships. But they also introduce risks that can be difficult for young people—and the adults who care for them—to recognize.
Online interactions can sometimes become uncomfortable, inappropriate, manipulative, or harmful. And when something does happen, asking for help isn't always easy.
A recent national study from Thorn, Youth Perspectives on Online Safety, 2025, published in July 2026, offers important insight into the online experiences of children and teens ages 9–17. The findings remind us that protecting young people requires more than understanding technology. It requires understanding the experiences they are navigating and creating relationships where they feel safe speaking up.
What the Research Reveals
Thorn's annual research explores how young people experience online interactions, respond to potential risks, and seek support when something goes wrong.
Several findings deserve our attention:
1 in 4
Children ages 9–17 reported experiencing a sexual interaction online.
1 in 5
Young people who experienced an online sexual interaction did not tell anyone about it.
47%
Of minors surveyed reported accessing an online platform, website, or app before meeting its minimum age requirement.
67%
Of minors surveyed reported having used an AI chatbot or companion. Among young people who experienced an online sexual interaction, 15% sought advice or support from an AI tool afterward.
These findings offer a glimpse into the complex digital environments young people are navigating. They also highlight an important concern: young people may not always turn to the people around them when they experience something confusing, uncomfortable, or harmful.
An important distinction: Thorn's definition of an online sexual interaction includes a range of experiences, such as sexual messages and requests for nude images. Not every reported interaction necessarily involves coercion, exploitation, or trafficking. These statistics should not be interpreted as the prevalence of trafficking.
When Asking for Help Feels Difficult
Perhaps one of the most important findings from Thorn's research is not simply what young people are experiencing online, but what happens afterward.
For some young people, sharing an uncomfortable or harmful experience can feel just as difficult as navigating the experience itself.
Thorn found that nearly half of the young people who did not disclose an online sexual interaction cited feeling embarrassed and worried about being judged.
Think about what that means.
A young person may worry that an adult will take away their phone, restrict their access to technology, become angry, or blame them for what happened. They may feel embarrassed, fear getting into trouble, or simply not know how to explain the situation.
When those fears outweigh their confidence in receiving support, they may choose to remain silent.
This is why the response young people receive from adults matters so much.
When a young person shares something concerning, our first response can help determine whether they feel safe sharing more or retreat into silence.
They need to hear:
You are not in trouble.
I believe you.
This is not your fault.
Thank you for telling me.
We will figure out the next steps together.
Young people deserve to know that asking for help will be met with compassion, not shame or judgment.
How Parents, Caregivers, and Trusted Adults Can Help
Preventing online exploitation isn't solely about monitoring devices or setting restrictions. Those can be important safety measures, but they are only part of the picture.
Building trust and maintaining open communication are equally important.
Here are a few ways adults can help create safer environments for young people.
1. Start conversations before there is a problem.
Talk regularly about online experiences, digital relationships, privacy, and boundaries. Make these conversations a normal part of growing up rather than something that only happens when something goes wrong.
2. Stay curious about their digital world.
Learn about the apps, platforms, games, and technologies young people are using. Ask questions and invite them to share what they enjoy, who they interact with, and whether anything online has ever made them uncomfortable.
3. Respond without judgment.
If a young person shares something concerning, remain calm and listen. Avoid immediately questioning their decisions, expressing anger, or threatening consequences. Reassure them that they are not to blame for someone else's harmful behavior.
4. Make it clear that they can always come to you.
Young people need to know that even if they make a mistake, break a rule, or encounter something they don't understand, they can still ask for help. Trust is built through consistent actions, not just conversations.
5. Keep learning.
Technology and online risks continue to evolve. Understanding topics like online grooming, sexual extortion, image-based abuse, and AI-generated content can help adults recognize concerns and respond appropriately.
Prevention Begins with Awareness. Protection Begins with Trust.
At Corrie's House, we believe every young person deserves to feel safe, valued, heard, and supported.
Our work is rooted in trauma-informed care, dignity, empowerment, and the belief that young people deserve opportunities to move forward in safety and hope.
We understand that creating safe environments means more than responding when harm has occurred. It also means recognizing the risks young people face, understanding the barriers that may prevent them from asking for help, and building relationships where they know they will be met with compassion.
Prevention and healing are connected.
The more informed our communities become, the better equipped we are to recognize potential harm, respond with understanding, and help young people access the support they deserve.
Whether you are a parent, caregiver, educator, healthcare professional, community leader, or simply someone who cares about the well-being of young people, you have a role to play.
A conversation can make a difference. A trusted relationship can make a difference. And a young person knowing they are not alone can make all the difference.
Every young person deserves to feel safe, heard, and supported.
Continue Learning
We encourage you to explore the full research from Thorn:
Youth Perspectives on Online Safety, 2025
Read the full report from Thorn
Source: Thorn. (2026). Youth Perspectives on Online Safety, 2025: An Annual Report of Youth Attitudes and Experiences. National survey of 1,003 U.S. minors ages 9–17.
CORRIE'S HOUSE | PREVENTION & AWARENESS
Prevention begins with awareness. Protection begins with trust.
Learn more about our mission and the work we do at corrieshouse.org.