A powerful visual presented during a congressional hearing has drawn widespread attention to the growing crisis of child sexual exploitation in the United States.
Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow displayed a map of the country marked with hundreds of red dots—each representing a location where child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is actively being downloaded or shared.
“We are losing the battle, and we are losing the war, and boys and girls are suffering for it,” Tebow told senators as he pointed to the map. “Every red dot that is on there is someone that is downloading, sharing, or distributing CSAM.”
He stressed that the issue spans all communities, from small rural towns to major urban centers, showing the nationwide scale of the problem.
Highlighting the link between digital crimes and physical abuse, Tebow said, “Fifty-five to eighty-five percent of them are also hands-on offenders, and the average offender has thirteen victims in their lifetime.”
He urged lawmakers to identify gaps in federal investigative systems that hinder the ability to locate victims quickly and prevent ongoing abuse.
The hearing was conducted by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, led by Josh Hawley (R-MO), who described child trafficking as a “scourge on our society.”
Hawley has long advocated for more federal resources and personnel dedicated to rescuing victims and cracking down on traffickers, according to USA Today.
Research conducted by the Tim Tebow Foundation paints a stark picture of the problem.
While earlier estimates suggested approximately 20,000 unidentified victims of online abuse, the foundation’s investigations indicate that number is far higher, with more than 57,000 children still awaiting identification and rescue.
“Every day, [these children] are praying that we are going to respond,” Tebow said. “But how are we going to respond?”
Adding further context, Staca Shehan, vice president of the Analytical Services Division at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, testified that in 2025 her organization received more than 21 million reports of child sexual exploitation.
Investigators had to sift through over 61 million pieces of associated media, highlighting the enormous workload facing law enforcement.
The Tim Tebow Foundation has worked extensively to address this crisis, according to MARCA.
Operating in 60 countries and running 46 safe houses, the organization provides shelter, medical care, and rehabilitation for rescued children.
Since its founding, the foundation has helped over 3,500 survivors and partners closely with law enforcement to dismantle trafficking networks.
Tebow described the mission as offering “faith, hope, and love to those who need a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.”
Tebow concluded his testimony by calling for bipartisan collaboration, emphasizing that protecting children should never be a partisan issue.
He urged Congress, law enforcement, and nonprofit organizations to work together to strengthen technology, expand investigative resources, and create coordinated international databases to track offenders and rescue victims more effectively.
The hearing highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated national response to online child exploitation.
With abuse continuing to increase across digital platforms, advocates say only through combined efforts, sufficient resources, and technological improvements can the United States begin to reduce the scale of this crisis and ensure that vulnerable children are protected.
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