New technology is constantly changing what young people experience online. Each new platform or innovation can impact how they communicate, connect, and seek support. For trust and safety teams, keeping up with these changing experiences helps inform which platform protections work best for the young people who rely on them.
In a recent webinar, Thorn Senior Researcher Ruth Leemis shared findings from Thorn’s 2025 Youth Perspectives survey, which asked more than 1,000 U.S. youth ages 9 to 17 about their online experiences. This presentation explored online sexual interactions, age-restricted services, reporting and help-seeking, and the growing role AI can play when young people have questions about sensitive experiences.
Here are a few of the ideas explored during the conversation.
“Sexualized contacts may develop through a pathway, then appear as one single isolated violation.”
About one in four youth surveyed reported at least one form of online sexual interaction in 2025. Some youth described sexual exploration with people they know and trust. Others reported pressure, coercion, threats, or non-consensual sharing. In some cases, one experience can develop into another as the interaction continues. For trust and safety teams, that raises questions about how to identify connected patterns of behavior across a service.
“If a 12-year-old entered a particular site using an adult birth date, which protections would disappear and which risks would remain?”
Almost half of the minors surveyed said they used a platform before reaching its minimum age. Faking their age or birth date was the most common way to do this. Youth who said they accessed platforms underage also reported more online sexual interactions. This can help safety teams check if blocking, reporting, image removal, and support systems still work when age info is missing or inaccurate.
“Treat AI as a safety surface.”
About two-thirds of minors surveyed had used an AI chatbot or companion for some purpose. 30% reported turning to AI after something confusing or upsetting happened to them or someone else. Following an online sexual interaction, 15% sought advice from an AI chatbot or companion.
Teams building AI systems will want to consider how those systems recognize possible disclosures, respond without blame, offer immediate safe steps, and create pathways to trusted human support.
A must-watch for trust and safety teams
Ruth explores these topics and more in greater depth in the full webinar. Watch the on-demand video to learn what Thorn’s latest Youth Perspectives findings could mean for platform design and AI experiences.
For additional guidance, explore Thorn’s C-suite brief and the full 2025 Youth Perspectives report.