Snapchat most-used app for grooming, says NSPCC

According to police data shared with the children’s charity NSPCC, Snapchat is currently the most commonly used platform for online grooming. Across the UK, over 7,000 instances of "Sexual Communication with a Child" were recorded in the year leading up to March 2024, marking the highest annual count since this offense category was introduced. Out of the 1,824 cases where the platform was identified, nearly half involved Snapchat.

The NSPCC expressed concerns, saying that this data shows society is "still waiting for tech companies to make their platforms safe for children." Snapchat responded by telling the BBC it has a "zero tolerance" policy for the exploitation of young people, along with additional safety features for teens and their parents.

Becky Riggs, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for child protection, described the figures as "shocking," and emphasized that tech companies need to take responsibility for child safety on their platforms, calling for regulators to enforce stricter rules for social media platforms.

In one alarming case, an eight-year-old girl, referred to as Nicki, was initially contacted by a groomer on a gaming app, who then encouraged her to continue their conversation on Snapchat. According to Nicki’s mother, "Sarah," who recounted the incident to the BBC, the groomer requested explicit material and sent inappropriate messages. Sarah, pretending to be her daughter, later created a fake Snapchat profile, received messages from the groomer, and then reported him to the police.

Sarah now monitors her daughter's devices weekly, despite her daughter’s reluctance. She told the BBC, "As a mother, it’s my responsibility to make sure she’s safe." She also urged parents not to rely solely on apps or games to protect their children.