Police Scotland recorded almost 3,500 child sex abuse images in five years. Crimes are rising, with many on Snapchat and Meta platforms.
An NSPCC request showed where abuse happened. Nearly half of the crimes were on Snapchat, while Meta platforms had a quarter of the crimes. This includes Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
Charities want the government to act fast and strengthen Ofcom’s role in messaging. Ofcom made rules for social media companies to protect young users.
The NSPCC and another group want reviews and stronger rules. They believe kids need better online safety. Current plans may not fully protect children, going against the Online Safety Act.
Ofcom says illegal content must only be removed when possible, creating a loophole. Some services avoid basic child protections. Charities say this is unacceptable.
Aoife was exploited online at age 15. She met a man on Yubo who lied and convinced her to use Telegram. He asked for explicit images of her.
He then threatened to share the images to control her on Facebook. His demands got scary, she recalled. She reported him to CEOP, as taught at school.
Her school and parents then got involved, helping her report it all. The predator was sentenced in 2022, after the National Crime Agency investigated.
Aoife now gives advice to kids facing online harm. She says, do not share explicit images online, as you don’t truly know them if met online. It is never worth the risk, she warns.
Aoife urges anyone threatened to tell someone. A parent, teacher, or neighbor will care. Remember, it is not your fault; you are the victim, she adds.
The NSPCC’s chief finds the numbers alarming. Child abuse images cause harm to kids. Tech companies disregard illegal content online, and they must do much more to stop it.
He says separate rules for messaging let tech bosses off. Proper child protections must be robustly made. Crimes continue on their platforms, and the Online Safety Act is not enough.
The government must boldly act against abuse and hold tech companies accountable. The platforms may need design changes. There is no excuse for delays, he adds.
A police chief said online child abuse keeps growing. They want to catch offenders and protect kids. They also work with partners to prevent abuse, aiming to save kids in Scotland and globally.