More than 100,000 criminal offences have been linked to Snapchat since 2021, according to Freedom of Information data obtained by ITV, including multiple counts of rape and assault. The figures have intensified pressure on the government to act against social media platforms, with ministers now weighing an outright ban on children’s access to such apps.
Snapchat linked to over 100,000 offences
The FOI data, which covers offences recorded by police forces across the UK over the past five years, does not allege that Snapchat itself committed the crimes, but rather that the platform was used in connection with them. The scale of the figure – exceeding 100,000 incidents – has been seized upon by campaigners who argue that self-regulation has failed. Among the offences listed are serious violent and sexual crimes, including rape and assault, though the exact breakdown has not been published.
The disclosure comes amid a broader surge in online child sexual abuse and exploitation. In England and Wales, 51,672 such crimes were recorded in 2024 – a 26% increase on the previous year. Overall child sexual exploitation offences in 2024 stood at 122,768, a 6% rise. The NSPCC estimates that around one in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused, while the Home Office calculated in 2019 that approximately 80,000 people in the UK pose a sexual threat to children online. Half of these online crimes involve child-on-child abuse, with sharing indecent imagery identified as the most common form.
Government moves towards social media ban for children
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has made clear that the era of trusting tech firms to police themselves is over. “They’ve had their chance,” she told ITV. “Time and time and time again, they have had a chance to put this right. The question isn’t if we’re going to act, it’s how.” Her comments followed the closure of a government consultation titled “Growing up in the online world,” which received approximately 116,211 responses – making it the second-largest government consultation in history, after the 2012 consultation on equal marriage.
The consultation revealed overwhelming parental support for a ban. Ninety per cent of parents who responded backed prohibiting under-16s from using social media. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told his Cabinet on Tuesday that the scale of the response “showed the strength of feeling about the issue” and said there was “no question” the government would act. Ms Kendall has previously stated that an Australian-style ban on under-16s is “on the table,” alongside other options such as curfews or limits on addictive features like infinite scrolling. Ministers are understood to be leaning towards a full ban.
The government’s legislative foundation is the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which will require the government to impose age or functionality restrictions for children under 16. This follows earlier defeats in the House of Lords, where peers twice voted in favour of a ban. The Commons defeated a Lords amendment that would have imposed an outright ban, instead passing a proposal giving the secretary of state power to restrict internet access for under-18s.
The rationale for intervention extends beyond criminal offences. Research compiled for policymakers highlights a link between extended social media use and increased symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents, with girls showing a stronger correlation with depression. A 2015 study found that children spending more than three hours on social media on a school day were twice as likely to report high or very high scores for mental ill-health. Cyberbullying affects 27% of UK children aged 8–15 who use social media, and victims are twice as likely to self-harm or attempt suicide. Exposure to harmful content, including self-harm and suicide imagery, is also prevalent: 40% of English children have seen such material. Negative social comparison, lower self-esteem, and increased mental health risks are all documented consequences.
Ms Kendall emphasised that the government’s approach is driven by a desire to help parents. “I think about parents who are crying out for help,” she said. “They want to do the right thing, they want to make sure their children are safe, but it’s really difficult to keep on top of all of these apps. So I think the reason why parents have been so supportive of a ban is because of the simplicity. It’s a clear message about expectations.”
Political pressure is also mounting from the opposition. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has repeatedly called for a ban, telling the BBC: “Social media is for adults, it’s not for children.” Internationally, the UK is closely watching Australia’s experience with its under-16 ban, though reports suggest some teenagers are finding ways around it. The United States has expressed concerns, with the White House warning of a “disproportionate burden” on American companies and questioning the robustness of age verification methods. Liz Kendall has stated that the UK will not be swayed by US objections.
Snapchat’s response
A Snapchat spokesperson told ITV: “The stories shared by these families are devastating. Sexual exploitation is an abhorrent crime, and we are working hard to combat it, including by continuously evolving our safety mechanisms as criminals change their tactics. We also work closely with the police and safety experts to keep activity like this off our platform and to bring criminals to justice. Our goal is to create a safe environment for our community.”
Snapchat currently offers a “Family Centre” feature that allows parents to monitor activity, limit content, and control who can contact their child. Accounts for users under 18 have safety controls applied by default, and the company says it limits public content recommendations for teens and prevents adults from messaging minors unless they are mutual friends. However, the platform does not require age verification beyond users self-reporting their birthdate, and risks remain from unmoderated private chats, disappearing messages, and the possibility of screenshots.
