The Countess of Wessex warned that online giants such as Facebook and WhatsApp present “new and very dangerous threats to our children.”

Sophie said that while the internet provides “positive opportunities” to engage online, it also “allows predators to commit truly horrific abuse in what should be the sanctity and safety of a child’s own home. “.

She added: “This abuse has devastating consequences and serious long-term repercussions on their mental health, families and future relationships, many suffer from trauma and long-term behavior problems, and far too many are trying. [suicide]. ‘

Prince Edward’s wife was speaking in her role as sponsor of the NSPCC at the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Children’s Rights in Brussels.

“Online child sexual abuse and exploitation affects every country in the world and requires our strength and tenacity to fight it,” she told policymakers. “Moreover, it is not the responsibility of any person or organization – it is our responsibility to seek ways to prevent these crimes from being committed.”

The Countess brought up the case of a 14-year-old boy she called ‘Ben’ who attempted suicide after a man he met on Facebook pretended to be a girl and the blackmailed into sending explicit photos.

She also brought up the case of a 13-year-old girl who was cared for by a married man in her 30s, first via Facebook and then via WhatsApp.

He also manipulated her into sending explicit photographs of herself which resulted in enormous psychological trauma.

The Countess brought up the case of a 14-year-old boy she called “Ben” who attempted suicide after a man he met on Facebook pretended to be a girl and the blackmailed into sending explicit photos.

Noting that 65% of children in Western Europe had been sexually abused online, the Countess added: “It is well over half of our children who have been targeted and affected by these crimes.

“If they were faced with this level of risk every time they went out into the physical world, I ask you, will we allow this to go unchallenged? “

She called on social media companies to balance the “fundamental rights of all internet users” with the rights of children and called on them to create spaces where young people can “freely and safely use online services that are fundamentally safe by design “.