Meta-owned platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram, have been implicated in these crimes, with WhatsApp and Facebook each linked to 12% of cases, while Instagram accounts for 6%.

Ofcom has announced that starting in December 2024, tech firms will be legally required to comply with the Online Safety Act, implementing strict measures to prevent grooming and enhance protections for children.

Data from 45 police forces indicates that social media platforms are commonly used for grooming crimes, with Snapchat involved in 48% of disclosed cases.

Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, has criticized the slow progress made by tech companies in ensuring the safety of children on their platforms since the Online Safety Act was enacted.

Jess Phillips, the Minister for Safeguarding, has condemned child sexual abuse as a serious crime and stressed the duty of social media companies to prevent such abuses on their platforms.

Recent statistics from the NSPCC reveal that online grooming crimes in the UK have surged to a record high of 7,062 offences in the year 2023-24, marking an 89% increase since the legislation of these offences in 2017-18.

The NSPCC is advocating for stronger regulations under the Online Safety Act, urging the government to provide Ofcom with clearer authority to combat child sexual abuse, particularly in private messaging.

Phillips highlighted the alarming case of Alexander McCartney, who groomed over 3,500 children, as a critical example of the urgent need for social media companies to take action.

Snapchat maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and claims to implement protective measures for young users, including in-app warnings and a Family Centre for parental oversight.

Phillips warned that social media companies could face significant fines for non-compliance with the Online Safety Act, emphasizing the importance of their role in safeguarding children.