New research study uncovers alarming rise of online sexual exploitation through livestreaming
- Ganda Negosyo
- Sep 17, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Plan International Pilipinas today launched a pioneering study on the alarming rise of self-facilitated livestreaming of child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA), a form of online abuse where children are coerced into producing and sharing sexually explicit content on their own.
The research, supported by the Safe Online global initiative, draws from a mix of quantitative and qualitative data gathered in emerging hotspots of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC): Angeles, Quezon City, and Manila in Luzon; Leyte and Bohol in the Visayas; and Iligan City in Mindanao.
It details the socio-economic, emotional, and technological factors that make children (mostly girls aged 13 to 15) vulnerable, including exposure to harmful content, emotional dependence, family instability, and poverty that forces them to take on financial responsibilities. In some communities, online relationships with foreign men (often referred to as "AFAMs") have even become aspirational.
The abuse, then, manifests in two ways: commercial, where sexual acts are exchanged for money or material rewards; and non-commercial, driven by grooming, manipulation, peer pressure, or a search for love and validation.
"When we say some children 'self-generate' to livestream sexual content, we must not mistake this for genuine consent or enjoyment," emphasized Sheila Estabillo, Project Manager of the Safe Online Research Project in the Philippines.
Estabillo clarified that terms such as "self-generated" or "self-facilitated" are standard language in international frameworks-including the Luxembourg Guidelines, Internet Watch Foundation, Interpol, and Europol-and do not imply informed consent from the child.
"The study doesn't show that children enjoy these acts; it shows how vulnerable they are to manipulation and abuse," she said.
Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, Executive Director of Plan International Pilipinas, underscored the need for coordinated, multi-sectoral action. "We cannot treat this as just a technological issue or family issue. It's a systemic protection gap. There is availability of these materials because here's a demand for them. This study helps us understand where the system breaks, and how to x it," she said.
Researchers warn that current laws and protection systems are failing to keep up with the fast- changing nature of online abuse. Outdated or conflicting legal definitions create exploitable loopholes, while weak local enforcement, gaps in data, and limited survivor services leave many victims unseen and unsupported. Shame, fear, and stigma further silence children, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked.
The study calls for urgent action to strengthen programs and policies that protect children. Key recommendations include stricter local enforcement of child protection laws, improved support services for survivors, and regular training for frontline workers-such as social workers, police, and barangay officials-on how to spot, respond to, and report online abuse. It also urges stronger public awareness campaigns on digital safety and urges private companies to invest in real-time monitoring of child sexual abuse material, enhance reporting tools, and work more closely with child protection groups.
"This study helps us move past the usual predator-victim narrative," Sanchez-Ogang added. "To truly protect children, we must confront the deeper problems that make them vulnerable in the first place."
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About Plan International Pilipinas
Plan International Pilipinas is a development and humanitarian organization working in the Philippines since 1961. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, supporters, and partners in advancing children's rights and equality for girls.
About Safe Online
Safe Online is a global investment vehicle dedicated to keeping children safe in the digital world. It strengthens systems and catalyzes innovative solutions to make the internet a safe place for children to explore, learn and develop.
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