More than 29 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation in 2021, nonprofit center says

Since the pandemic, children have been relegated to laptops and phones for school, clubs, and activities. That meant a lot more time in front of screens—and online predators have tried to follow them there. 

The nonprofit National Center for Missing & Exploited Children operates a clearinghouse for tips of child online exploitation. In a new report released to CBS News, the center says it received 29.3 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation last year—an increase of 35% from 2020 and an all-time high. 

"The predators recognize that there were going to be more hours online where teens and children were going to be unsupervised, and they were encouraging each other to seize upon that opportunity," said John Shehan, vice president of the Exploited Children Division at the center.