Online child grooming on Snapchat is happening more than ever, with Snapchat being the top platform used by predators, according to a report from the UK’s NSPCC. It’s important to know about how these crimes are happening, how to keep your child safe online, and what to do if they fall victim to grooming or blackmail.
The NSPCC reports an 89% increase in online grooming cases over the past six years, with a significant rise in 2023/24. In total, 7,062 cases of “Sexual Communication with a Child” were recorded by police, and nearly half (48%) of online grooming occurred on Snapchat. Other platforms where grooming takes place include:
This data, provided by 45 UK police forces, shows a worrying trend: predators often start by talking to kids on popular apps and then move them to private messaging platforms, where their conversations can easily go undetected.
The data shows that girls are disproportionately affected, making up 81% of victims. Shockingly, younger children are also being targeted, with the youngest known victim being just five years old.
In many cases, predators use platforms such as Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Facebook to initiate contact, gradually grooming children by building trust and then moving to private encrypted messaging services to carry out the abuse without being detected. This is a serious concern when it comes to Online Child Grooming on Snapchat.
One victim, Thomas, shared his experience of cyber grooming when he was 14:
“At first, I felt like I was talking to the most supportive person ever. But after a month, the pressure started. He sent explicit photos and asked me to send some back. I didn’t want to, but I felt trapped because he threatened to share the photos with everyone if I didn’t continue.”
Fortunately, Thomas found the courage to stop the predator, but the trauma stayed with him long after the incident.
The NSPCC is calling on Ofcom to tighten rules around child sexual abuse and grooming, especially on private messaging platforms like Snapchat and WhatsApp. They want social media companies to take action before abuse happens, not just after. While the UK’s Online Safety Act is designed to address these issues, many of its rules won’t be enforced until 2025 or later.
Experts like Mark Jones from Payne Hicks Beach point out that platforms like Snapchat make it harder to fight Snapchat child grooming because their disappearing messages can erase important evidence. This makes it even more difficult to hold predators accountable.
Given the growing threat of Snapchat online grooming, it’s essential for you to take steps to safeguard your children’s online experiences. Here are five key actions to consider:
If your child finds themselves being groomed or blackmailed by an online predator, it’s crucial to take immediate action:
You can protect your kids from Snapchat online child grooming by staying informed and maintaining open communication. At the same time, set up parental controls on SnapChat with iKeyMonitor to monitor and protect your kids is essential. Better safe than sorry.