NCMEC Releases New Data: 2024 in Numbers

As threats against children continue to evolve, NCMEC is constantly adapting by finding new ways to address the toughest challenges kids face. With technology and trends rapidly reshaping the landscape of child safety, we're always learning, listening and adjusting our apporach to better protect kids. Our 2024 data reflects what we’ve seen over the past year and offers a snapshot of how we’re responding, and why the work to ensure every child has a safe childhood remains as critical as ever.

Behind every data point is a child—and the statistics show that our efforts are making a real difference. In 2024 NCMEC assisted law enforcement with 29,568 cases of missing children and helped bring 91% of them home.

While we’re making strides, the risks, especially online, are becoming more complex and widespread. One of the most alarming trends we’ve seen is the rapid rise of AI-generated content. In 2024 alone, NCMEC saw a 1,325% increase in CyberTipline reports that involved Generative AI Technology (GAI).

Sextortion also continues to rise, with a significant increase in reports of online enticement made to NCMEC in 2024. Over the last year, NCMEC received nearly 100 reports of financial sextortion per day. These aren’t just heartbreaking statistics: they represent real kids in crisis. Since 2021, NCMEC is aware of at least 36 teenage boys who have taken their lives because they were victimized by sextortion.

This growing crisis has also led to changes in how these crimes are reported. In 2024, the REPORT Act expanded mandatory reporting to include two additional types of child sexual exploitation: online enticement and child sex trafficking. NCMEC is already seeing an increase in child sex trafficking reports, which is potentially an early result of the REPORT Act, up 55% from 2023.

Despite an increase in many numbers tracked by the CyberTipline, the overall CyberTipline number did decrease in 2024, down from 36.2 million reports in 2023 to 20.5 million in 2024.

One contributing factor to the decrease is a new feature added to the CyberTipline in in 2024. This update enabled large online platforms the ability to "bundle" related reports to streamline reporting of widespread incidents, such as viral meme content. While bundled reports still contain information on every reported user and incident, they consolidate incidents tied to a single viral event into a single or smaller set of reports, reducing redundant submissions.

However, even with the new “bundling” feature, reports to NCMEC’s CyberTipline are still lower than they were last year. Not because the crimes have stopped, but because some platforms aren’t reporting as they should. Factors include a decrease in submissions from some electronic service providers and the growing use of end-to-end encryption, which can limit what platforms are able to detect and report. This drop in reporting is especially concerning, since the REPORT Act is supposed to increase reports, not reduce them.

Despite growing challenges, NCMEC continues to adapt and respond. In 2024, NCMEC reached more than 83,000 kids and more than 10,500 parents and caregivers with education on how to stay safe. We also provided mental health support, helped identify unknown children and kept our call center ready 24/7, so families had someone to turn to when it mattered most. Because as the world evolves, so does the way we protect kids, and we’ll always be here when you need us.

Want to learn more? Visit our website now to read the full 2024 Impact page and CyberTipline report.