The messaging app Snapchat is the most widely used platform for online grooming, according to police figures supplied to the children’s charity the NSPCC. More than 7,000 Sexual Communication with a Child offences were recorded across the UK in the year to March 2024 – the highest number since the offence was created.

Snapchat is one of the smaller social media platforms in the UK – but is very popular with children and teenagers. That is “something that adults are likely to exploit when they’re looking to groom children,” says Rani Govender, child safety online policy manager at the NSPCC.

Messages and images on Snapchat disappear after 24 hours – making incriminating behaviour harder to track – and senders also know if the recipient has screen grabbed a message.

Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said “Under the Online Safety Act they will have to stop this kind of illegal content being shared on their sites, including on private and encrypted messaging services or face significant fines.” The Online Safety Act includes a legal requirement for tech platforms to keep children safe.