Snapchat Is The Most Used Grooming App For Predators

Snapchat is officially the most-used platform for online grooming in the UK, with shocking new figures from police data supplied to the NSPCC. The children’s charity reported more than 7,000 cases of “Sexual Communication with a Child” across the UK in the past year— the highest number on record since this became an offense in 2017. Nearly half of the 1,824 cases where police specified the platform involved Snapchat. The NSPCC believes this disturbing trend is a clear indication that tech companies still aren’t doing enough to make their platforms safe for young users.

Snapchat, in response, told Imran Rahman-Jones from The BBC that it has a “zero tolerance” policy toward child exploitation and has implemented various safety measures for teens and their parents. However, Becky Riggs, lead for child protection at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, called the data “shocking” and emphasized the need for more accountability on tech companies. “Safeguarding children online has to be a priority for platforms that create these spaces, and we need stronger regulatory measures,” she stated.

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The risks of platforms like Snapchat hit home for Sarah, a mother whose daughter, Nicki, was groomed at just eight years old. After her daughter was contacted on a gaming app, a groomer encouraged her to continue conversations on Snapchat. “I don’t need to explain the details, but anything you can imagine happening did,” Sarah said. She eventually caught on, creating a fake profile to catch the groomer in the act, and promptly alerted the police. Now, she vigilantly monitors her daughter’s devices weekly, saying, “As a mum, it’s my job to ensure her safety, and I can’t rely on apps to do that.”

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Snapchat is a smaller player in the UK’s social media scene but is widely popular among younger users—a detail that online predators know all too well, according to Rani Govender, child safety online policy manager at the NSPCC. Govender also pointed out that Snapchat’s design itself poses safety challenges; messages and images vanish after 24 hours, making harmful behaviors harder to trace. “Children tell us that Snapchat doesn’t take their reports seriously, and they’re able to see disturbing content on the app,” she added.

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Grooming cases overall have risen each year since the “Sexual Communication with a Child” offense was introduced. This year, there were 7,062 recorded instances, nearly half involving Snapchat. The NSPCC also noted a slight increase in cases on WhatsApp, while cases on Instagram and Facebook have declined in recent years.

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The pressure is mounting on social platforms to act, and the new Online Safety Act will soon make it legally binding for tech companies to keep children safe. From December, platforms will be required to publish risk assessments and implement protective measures or face hefty fines. Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, said that they’re ready to “use the full extent” of their enforcement powers on any company that fails to protect young users.