Rising Digital Threats Put Mexican Minors at Risk

As internet use among minors in Mexico rises, so do digital threats like cyberbullying, grooming, sexting, and doxing, according to ESET Latin America. The company emphasizes the need to reinforce cybersecurity practices in light of the increase in internet use among minors.

"Ninety-five percent of respondents claim to talk in the family environment about the risks that exist on the internet, underlining the urgency of addressing the problem from the first encounters, which often begin with manipulative interactions online and can lead to serious consequences," says David González, Laboratory Security Researcher, ESET Latin America, to EDOMEX al Día.

In Mexico, internet access among minors has increased significantly. According to UNICEF data, 50% of children between the ages of six and 11 and between 80% and 94% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 use the internet or computers on a regular basis. Although this digital environment offers educational and recreational opportunities, it also exposes minors to multiple risks. About 25% of adolescents between 12 and 17 years old have experienced some form of cyberbullying in Mexico, reports UNICEF.

ESET’s Minors on the internet: what is the perception of adults and what security measures do they apply? report reveals that the intensive use of social networks and messaging applications is a key factor in this exposure. According to ESET, the platforms most used by children in Mexico are WhatsApp (66%), YouTube (55%), TikTok (49%), Facebook (34%), and Zoom (17%). Additionally, the National System for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents reports that 77% of children between twelve and fifteen years old surf the internet between six and eight hours a day.

Digital risks for minors have acquired critical dimensions in recent years. According to the Cyberbullying Module 2023 of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in 2023, 3.3 million adolescents between 12 and 17 years old were registered as victims of cyberbullying, which represents 25.7% of internet users in that age group.

Cyberbullying affects over 20% of men and more than 30% of adolescent women in the country. This threat, defined as harassment through various digital platforms, can lead to severe emotional effects such as depression, anxiety or learning disorders.

Grooming represents another risk. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported a 1000% increase in the circulation of images related to child sexual abuse worldwide during the confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the expansion of this crime. Sexting under pressure also represents a considerable risk. According to the Red por los Derechos de la Infancia en México (REDIM), in 2023 about 144,200 adolescents reported having shared or disseminated intimate content without consent. Doxing affected 247,000 adolescents in Mexico in 2022, according to REDIM data. 

In addition, participation in dangerous viral challenges has grown. The Ministry of Citizen Security (SSC) of Mexico City identified around 500 incidents in 2022 linked to minors participating in dynamics that put their physical or emotional integrity at risk, including practices such as jumping out of moving vehicles or performing extreme diets.

ESET study proposes a series of preventive measures to strengthen the digital security of minors. Recommendations include the establishment of clear rules for the use of digital devices and platforms, the active supervision of online activity, the promotion of open communication with minors, the use of parental control tools, and cybersecurity education focused on the recognition of threats.

ESET also promotes the Digipadres initiative, in collaboration with SakerKidsOnline, aimed at parents and teachers. This platform provides educational resources to promote the safe and responsible use of digital technologies by children. Through training materials, Digipadres seeks to facilitate the acquisition of practical knowledge to identify risks, talk to children about their online activity, and supervise their interaction with digital platforms.