Childline has warned that online grooming is becoming faster and easier, with Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram the platforms most frequently mentioned by children seeking counselling about online sexual abuse.
Parents are being urged to talk openly with children about online safety amid warnings that social media grooming is becoming “quicker” and “easier” than ever.
Childline said Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram were the platforms most frequently named by children in counselling sessions about online sexual abuse last year.
Avon and Somerset Police child exploitation prevention officer Andri Nicolau said children as young as five could be targeted through social media, gaming and messaging services. She urged parents to make clear that children could ask for help without fear of blame or punishment.
“Sit down with your child, tell them it’s not their fault, even if they’ve sent indecent images of themselves,” she said. “Believe them and give them the authorisation to say whatever they need to say.”
The warning follows the jailing of three men who groomed a 17-year-old girl on Snapchat before raping her.
NSPCC research found sexual communication offences involving children in the South West more than doubled over seven years, reaching 756 in 2024/25.
Snapchat was mentioned in 324 Childline counselling sessions about online sexual abuse between April 2025 and March 2026, up 19% on the previous year. TikTok was mentioned 234 times and Instagram 197 times.
NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “It’s deeply disturbing that hundreds of children have come to us in the past year alone, disclosing experiences of online sexual abuse linked to these popular apps and platforms.
“These crimes are highly distressing for victims, often leaving children and their families to deal with devastating lifelong impacts.”
There has also been a rise in sextortion, where criminals threaten to distribute sexual images unless victims comply with their demands. The Internet Watch Foundation said more young people were contacting its confidential Report Remove service over fears intimate images had been shared or could be.
Ella Bradshaw, the NSPCC’s policy and public affairs officer, said parents should begin conversations about online safety early.
“Making sure that your child knows that you will stand by them, that you will respond with warmth and care rather than judging them or blaming them for what’s going on is really important,” she said.
Meta, which owns Instagram, said it was working to prevent grooming by restricting contact between adults and unconnected teenagers and using technology to detect child exploitation material.
The company said it also uses behavioural signals to identify accounts showing possible signs of grooming or sexual interest in children.
Childline issues grooming warning for Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram
