A new awareness campaign about intimate image abuse has been launched by Ireland’s online safety charity CyberSafeKids and Irish Internet Hotline. Supported by the Community Foundation Ireland, the It’s Not The End of The World campaign is aimed at empowering children and young people (13–17 years) to understand what intimate image abuse is and how to access support.
Irish Internet Hotline recently published new data showing a dramatic 66% increase in reports of intimate image abuse in 2025, with children and young people identified as a particularly at-risk group. A total of 862 reports of intimate image abuse were received in 2025, up from 519 in 2024 – with children and young people under 18 accounting for 13% of all cases. 35% of cases involved victims aged 18–24 – meaning nearly half of all reports involved young people aged 24 or under.
Since the introduction of Coco’s Law in 2021, which made the non-consensual sharing of intimate images a criminal offence in Ireland, reports have risen steadily year on year. Intimate image abuse encompasses a broad range of harmful activities involving personal intimate imagery, from non-consensual sharing of images to threats of exposure and sexual extortion.
Of all the intimate image abuse reports received in 2025, 53% involved images that had already been shared without consent, while 47% related to threats to share images. The majority of cases (70%) occurred on websites other than social media or mainstream platforms, with 26% on social networking platforms and the remainder spread across image hosting sites, forums, and video streaming services.
Speaking about the campaign, Alex Cooney, CEO of CyberSafeKids, said: ‘Over the years we’ve taken calls from distressed parents whose children’s intimate images had been shared – and too often, they hadn’t been given the right advice. That’s exactly why we’re launching this campaign. We also know that for many young people, sharing intimate images is seen as normal. It isn’t, and we have to challenge that head-on. Young people need to understand what abuse looks like, that help exists, and that images can be removed and situations resolved – without fear of judgement or shame’.
‘These figures are a wake-up call. Intimate image abuse is not rare, and it is affecting children as well as adults. The fact that 13% of reports to us this year came from under-18s shows the scale and seriousness of the problem. While our 96% removal rate proves action can be taken, removing images is only part of the solution. The fear, humiliation, and psychological harm caused by threats to share intimate images can be devastating for young people, even if the images are never posted publicly’, added Mick Moran, Chief Executive of Irish Internet Hotline. ‘We need stronger awareness, prevention, and support for victims, and that is exactly what this campaign aims to deliver. Young people need to understand that sharing or threatening to share intimate images is abuse, and it is illegal. It is also important to know that if it happens to you, you are not alone. Support is available from trusted adults, helplines, and Irish Internet Hotline.’
The awareness campaign, It’s Not The End of The World, comprises a free downloadable guide offering advice, help, and resources for children and young people dealing with intimate image abuse, along with three short videos highlighting difficult scenarios that young people may encounter. To find out more visit www.cybersafekids.ie/not-the-end.
