Worst social media app for child abuse offences revealed | UK News

Snapchat is the most commonly-used social media platform in reported child exploitation and abuse offences, according to new police figures. In 2024, 122,768 child sexual exploitation offences were recorded – an increase of 7,279, or 6%, on 2023. Child sexual exploitation and abuse online increased by 26%, with 51,672 crimes recorded – 42% of the total. Some 11,912 were on Snapchat, followed by Meta-owned WhatsApp and Instagram on 1,870 and 1,705. Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs, national lead for child protection and abuse investigation, said social media platforms must do more to report crime and stop underage images being shared. “I know that these platforms, with the technology that’s out there, could prevent these harms from occurring in the first instance,” she said. The senior officer said parents should be able to buy their children a phone safe in the knowledge that it will be safe to use, including social platforms. The government has said it has no plans to enforce a social media ban on children to keep them safe, but ministers say they’re watching Australia’s ban – which started this week – with interest. Chief Constable Riggs also stopped short of calling for such a ban. “We experiment
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