Snapchat group exposing children to 'harmful content' in Guernsey

Guernsey Police said a Snapchat group was "sharing language with strong sexual or violent language and sexual images"

A Snapchat group in Guernsey is exposing children to harmful content, the police have said.

Guernsey Police said a group was "sharing language with strong sexual or violent language and sexual images".

It said the group, believed to have been joined by more than 50 children, could also be encouraging children to share indecent images of themselves.

Parents were advised to check their children were not in the group, and that the app had a minimum age of 13.

An investigation is ongoing and enquiries are continuing, the force said.

Laura Simpson, digital safety development officer (DSDO) at Guernsey Police, said the app was "not suitable for children at all".

She said: "The age restriction of 13 clearly isn't deterring families from allowing their children into this environment, and that is putting children at serious risk of sexual exploitation.

"Although Snapchat has some parental controls, they are never going to be as effective as honest, open conversations with your families about what to do if you receive unwanted contact."

The force said it was running a programme in schools to educate children about harmful sexual behaviours and why they should not take or share naked images.

In a statement a Snap spokesperson said: "Snapchat is for over 13s and we are committed to ensuring our app is both safe and age appropriate.

"If we find sexual or harmful content we remove it immediately and we work with police to support investigations.

"We also have extra protections in place for younger users, confidential in-app reporting tools so our community can tell us if they see inappropriate content and our Family Centre, which allows parents to see who their teens are talking to."