An 11-year-old girl in Australia faced grooming and sexual abuse from strangers on Snapchat after she began adding random users to boost her points on the app. She reportedly added a stranger, engaging in a rivalry with her best friend over Snapchat scores, according to reports.
The girl, using the name “April,” added 23-year-old Jai Clapp in 2023 through the app’s “Quick Add” feature, aiming for a competitive “snap score” of 100,000 points with her peers. Clapp denied being 23 years old and groomed her over the following 12 days. He subsequently met her three times at a local park and sexually assaulted her.
Judge Marcus Dempsey described Clapp’s acts as “abhorrent,” involving both digital and physical penetration. Clapp pleaded guilty and received a sentence of eight years and ten months in prison, with a non-parole period of four years and eight months due to his abuse of this girl and another.
A spokesperson for Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, remarked on the seriousness of sexual exploitation, emphasizing its illegal nature and violation of their policies. The app’s “snap score” reflects a user’s activity, including sending and receiving snaps, tracking streaks, and adding friends.
Snapchat’s Quick Add feature suggests potential contacts based on shared interests identified by the app’s algorithm. Independent guidelines recommend that parents disable this feature to ensure only known individuals can add their children.
According to the National Association for the Prevention of Abuse, between 2023 and 2024, UK police recorded 48% of 7,000 sexual interactions involving minors. Starting in December, the Australian government plans to prohibit Snapchat access for anyone under 16, although the current minimum age is 13.
