The NSPCC reports a sharp increase in child abuse image offenses in the South East over the last five years.
According to statistics provided by the charity, the Kent, Sussex, and Surrey police forces reported 2,653 crimes in 2017 compared to 1,311 in 2016–17.
From 381 offenses five years ago to 1,356 last year, Kent Police saw the largest increase out of the region's forces.
According to a government spokesman, the Online Safety Bill will compel social media companies to safeguard children online.
Over 30,000 crimes involving the sharing and possession of indecent images of children were recorded last year, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by the NSPCC, which revealed a 66 percent increase in child abuse image offenses across the UK over a five-year period.
According to the charity's statistics, there have been more reported offenses across all police forces in the South East than there were five years ago.
The NSPCC claimed that unregulated social media was contributing to an increase in online child sex abuse and that social media companies "failed to stop" abuse-related activity on their platforms.
"These new figures are incredibly alarming, but they only represent the very tip of the iceberg of what children are experiencing online," NSPCC CEO Sir Peter Wanless said.
As online sexual abuse runs the risk of becoming commonplace for a generation of kids, we frequently hear from young people who feel helpless and let down. ".
When her ex-boyfriend posted her nude photos online when she was 14 years old, a woman from Kent who wished to remain anonymous told BBC South East Today that the incident left her "shocked, confused, and angry.".
"It took up all of my time. I worried about who would message me next every minute I was awake, she claimed.
Police were called to her school, and although arrests were made, no charges were filed, she claimed. She now calls for the introduction of stricter legislation and the realization by victims that "they are not alone.".
According to a spokesperson for the Home Office, the Online Safety Bill will require social media companies, including virtual reality platforms, to protect children from exploitation.
Senior managers may suffer serious repercussions and companies may be hit with steep fines if they do nothing, he continued.
