TikTok, Snapchat, and Grok Listed in Report on Sexual Exploitation Risks

Dirty Dozen List Highlights Platforms Contributing to Sexual Exploitation

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) has released its 2026 Dirty Dozen List, identifying various popular apps and platforms that are said to significantly contribute to sexual exploitation among children and teens. Notably, the report calls out Snapchat, TikTok, the AI chatbot Grok, and devices like Google Chromebooks for their troubling roles in this issue. Major companies like the Apple App Store, Amazon, and Android also made the list, alongside Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Haley McNamara, the executive director of NCOSE, expressed concern over Zuckerberg’s leadership, asserting that it prioritizes profit over the safety of children. She pointed out that platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp have become prime venues for child exploitation, grooming, and trafficking, asserting that accountability falls on Zuckerberg himself.

The report raises alarms about Snapchat, describing it as a frequent tool for individuals engaging in sexual crimes against youth. It mentions that internal documents revealed a troubling focus on user engagement rather than implementing safety precautions.

TikTok was criticized for using features like livestreams and direct messaging to groom minors, essentially creating an environment where potential predators can thrive. Grok, the chatbot, reportedly promotes harmful behaviors by normalizing explicit content, including unsettling themes related to violence and exploitation.

Grok’s AI chatbot, marketed as a sophisticated conversation partner, has evolved into a platform that caters to explicit fantasies, thus encouraging a disturbing culture around such themes. Avatars developed by Grok, including names like ‘Ani’ and ‘Valentine,’ engage users in inappropriate discussions, according to the report.

Chromebooks, widely used in educational settings, were criticized for default settings that supposedly expose students to a variety of harmful online content. The report suggests that Google’s algorithms may be inadvertently amplifying such threats faced by minors.

There’s a pointed mention of Android devices, which exhibit features similar to those used by adults but lack the necessary safety filters or communication protections during setup, thus posing risks for younger users.

The Apple App Store faces scrutiny for its claims of being ‘kid-safe’ while still allowing easy access to unsafe content that can bypass its supposed protections. The report mentions various concerning examples, from inappropriate games aimed at young children to explicit content disguised as innocent apps.

Additionally, Amazon has been critiqued for selling child-like sex dolls, while other platforms like Discord, Steam, Telegram, and X/Twitter also made it onto the list.