Rising Wave of Sexual Leaks Among Youth: A Digital Time Bomb Demanding Urgent Action

There is growing public concern over the increasing circulation of sexually explicit videos and images involving young people on social media platforms. The alarming trend, which has emerged in online spaces in recent weeks, has sparked outrage among citizens and human rights advocates, who describe it as a “digital epidemic” threatening the moral and psychological well-being of Ghana’s youth.

Many of these leaked materials are shared without consent, often by peers or former partners seeking revenge or social recognition. What begins as private moments ends up as viral humiliation, leaving victims mentally broken, socially isolated, and emotionally scarred. Experts warn that the continuous sharing of such content is not only unethical but constitutes a clear violation of Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) and other data protection laws.

“This is cyber abuse and sexual exploitation in its rawest form,” said a youth digital advocate in Accra. “The ease with which these videos circulate online shows how unprotected our young people are in the digital space.”

As this disturbing culture spreads, there is an urgent call on state authorities and digital stakeholders to take immediate and coordinated action.

Key institutions such as:

Ministry of Communications and Digitalization,

Cyber Security Authority, and

Ghana Police Service – Cybercrime Unit

must intensify surveillance, public education, and enforcement of cyber laws to hold perpetrators accountable.

Additionally, schools and universities are being urged to integrate digital ethics and consent education into their curricula to instill a sense of responsibility among young internet users. Parents and guardians are also encouraged to engage their children in open conversations about online behavior, privacy, and respect for others.

The digital era should be a space for innovation, connection, and learning, not a weapon of humiliation and abuse. The silence surrounding sexual leaks is costing lives and futures. As a nation, we must collectively condemn this practice and stand in defense of the victims whose dignity and peace of mind are being destroyed daily.

It is time to act, not watch.

Stop sharing. Stop enabling. Stop destroying lives.

#StopSexualLeaks #ProtectTheYouth #CyberSafetyGhana #EndDigitalAbuse #DigitalResponsibility