@itvnews: A warning this report contains distressing details.
The social media app Snapchat is being used by paedophiles and violent criminals to target thousands of children a year, an ITV News investigation has found.
Across 37 police forces, there were more than 100,000 offences involving the app over the past five years. In the cases where ages were provided, 6 in 10 of the victims were children or teenagers.
It’s not always clear how Snapchat was involved, but the crimes include multiple cases of rape and sexual assault.
A Snapchat spokesperson told ITV News that the company is "working hard to combat" sexual exploitation, "including by continuously evolving our safety mechanisms as criminals change their tactics."
#snapchat #onlinesafety #children #socialmedia
in all seriousness, parents should monitor what young kids have , like it’s there responsibility to make sure that their kids are safe online
2026-06-12 09:53:54
53
JusLyk :
you can’t be messaged out of the blue from snapchat unless you add them and your number has nothing to do with it😭😭
2026-06-11 15:17:50
107
wonkyplonk :
I really don’t know how to navigate my baby boy with the internet, he’s only two 😭
2026-06-12 17:01:38
0
pvt.vs :
js don’t add random ppl 😭
2026-06-11 17:50:47
195
alltheway344 :
why are kids using phones
2026-06-12 08:08:22
52
hannahannahxox :
Dont let your kids have social media!!!!!!
2026-06-12 09:58:47
33
rachelc78 :
my child isn't allowed snap chat, there's no reason for kids to have the app
2026-06-12 05:55:29
31
Saito Hiraga :
I've noticed on my SnapChat that I will occasionally get friends requests from the most random of people. Guess what I do?
I don't add them 😂
2026-06-12 06:30:40
26
Matt :
You don’t get messages from a number on Snapchat
2026-06-12 06:00:59
45
Shane :
That's not how Snapchat works, you can't add from the map or see ages from there
2026-06-12 04:33:26
41
Лив 🐇 :
just don’t add people you don’t know 😭
2026-06-11 17:41:53
86
No One :
It's parents responsibility to control children's internet access. Please stop promoting fearmongering
2026-06-11 13:07:35
99
𝓔𝓵𝓼 ᥫ᭡ :
Kids shouldn’t have smart phones as it makes them vulnerable to things like this. A basic phone with texts and calls is all kids need to the parents can make sure their child is safe.
2026-06-12 08:13:36
7
~🌸✨️𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓁𝓁☀️🪷~ :
ngl but like don't add people u don't know its not hard and just block them and don't exchange ur personal Info too
2026-06-11 20:53:56
23
jordie_smn :
been going on since it first came out
2026-06-11 15:24:28
74
Karl -_- :
just don't add ppl u don't know and if they add u remove them 🤷
2026-06-11 14:53:35
129
Fluke⚡️ :
Discord is far worse.
2026-06-11 17:53:29
6
xan frank :
“just don’t add anyone you don’t know” i saw a guy jorkin it on snap maps one time 😂
2026-06-11 19:13:01
10
@GrimdarkGrove :
I'd like to be able to put a password on the app store, so that the child can't download anything without the code, perhaps on settings too, as apks exist. They can download and delete apps to keep their activity secret. Or a 2 factor system for downloading apps. A notification to a parent's phone maybe and they can allow or decline. It might be a start.
2026-06-11 14:12:49
5
Shayne Hayes :
why do people add strangers online....it is safety 101
2026-06-12 09:17:56
13
jacobjackson10 :
I’ve never got the appeal of snapchat, awful service.
2026-06-12 10:19:55
6
chaudhary😎 :
Wth is this? Is this Ai ??
2026-06-11 14:45:23
13
miukitti3 :
Snapchat is just awful
2026-06-11 16:47:10
6
Hollyboo :
unfortunately Snapchat on app stores is on as parental guidance so that age needs raising and their age proving
2026-06-11 18:09:14
17
ChyVille :
12 years old but the apps minimum age requirement is 13
2026-06-11 15:48:57
5
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