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.
Chloe (not the victim's real name) said she and a "boy" messaged each other on Snapchat for several weeks before he promised to buy her some e-cigarettes if they met in person.
Chloe said the man also bought her expensive gifts, including Ugg boots and coats.
"He wanted me to do stuff... sexual stuff.. And because he was my boyfriend, I went along with it.
"When I said I wanted to stop he threatened me, saying he would send pictures and even a film of me round to all my mates, and I kind of believed him."
'Minutes after opening a Snapchat account pretending to be a 15-year-old girl, I'm amazed at what I see.
Drugs seem to be readily available - just a couple of clicks away. I thought this world was hidden and hard to access, but it is so easy to find.'
Forget what you know about chatbots. My AI, which Snapchat launched in May, is so convincingly real, it feels like there's a real person on the other end.
My daughter chats with it several times a day about just about everything, from school stress to friend troubles.
"This [AI] is perfect. No mean things to say. No weirdness. Everything is just perfect and they're willing to learn about what I want. They said even though I'm not a real person I can still be a good friend and listen to talk about things you love," explained my daughter.
"I love My AI. It's my best friend."
A new Snapchat feature aimed at teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) will save lives, according to former footballer Fabrice Muamba.
Snapchat users can find the feature within the Lenses section of their app.
Parents and carers have been asking the platform for more parental controls for years. They want to understand more about how those in their care use the app while also keeping them safer. After nearly one year in development, the promised parental control feature has finally arrived – Snapchat Family Center.
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