We are well aware in school that Snapchat is widely used by students and is a basis for online communication and contact.
However, 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 made up nearly half of the 1,824 cases where the specific platform used for the grooming was recorded by the police.
Lottie Hearn, Deputy Headteacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead, said: “We take the online safety of our students very seriously and are nationally recognised for the excellent work we do. However, online behaviour can never be 100% secure and Snapchat represents a real threat to young people. We would urge all parents to familiarise themselves with the issues and to talk this through a to home. This messaging will add to what we say in school and will hopefully help our children to remain safe.””
Matt Allman, Headteacher, added: “As parents we would not just allow anyone to go up to be with our children in their bedroom, but we do allow this to happen online and the risks and dangers of this are all too real.”
To read more about the dangers of unsupervised Snapchat use click here.
