high — Serious risk — review it with your child this week.active — Currently happening — we are seeing recent reports.Grooming
Disappearing messages, Snap Map, and Quick Add risks
Ephemeral messages and location sharing lower the paper trail predators and dealers rely on.
How it works
- Snapchat's disappearing messages, Snap Map location sharing, and 'Quick Add' make it easy to connect with strangers and leave little trace.
- Predators exploit the ephemerality to groom; some dealers use it to sell illicit pills that can be counterfeit and lethal.
Warning signs to watch for
- Secrecy that vanishing messages make easy.
- Many 'friends' added via Quick Add, and location sharing left on.
- Cash or payment-app activity, or new coded slang and emoji.
What you can do
- Turn on Ghost Mode so location isn't shared, and restrict Quick Add.
- Use Snapchat Family Center to see who they message.
- Talk frankly about counterfeit pills, and review their friends list together.
In the news
Genuine reporting on this threat from established news organizations. Press play to watch in place; links are re-verified on a schedule, so a clip that is taken down is flagged and removed.
- high — Serious risk — review it with your child this week.FOX 11 Los Angeles
Protest held outside Snapchat over child fentanyl deaths
Sources
In immediate danger? Contact local authorities. To report exploitation, use the NCMEC CyberTipline.
Get the signal without the noise
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