Parents are being warned as pedophiles are using live streaming apps and websites to groom children as young as eight.
According to the United Kingdom’s leading children’s charity Barnardos, the popularity of live streaming devices like Live.ly and Tik Tok leads to young children being abused online.
The youngest kids to call Barnardos for help after being sexually abused online were aged ten.
However, 8-year-olds are also using the service after being groomed by pedos using the comments function while streaming.
One primary school told The Mirror: “Parents of children in Year 3 to Year 6 have been horrified by what children are exposed to.”
Parents were warned to be aware of the hashtag #tradefortrade, which tells that the user wants to trade forbidden content.
TikTok has public and live streaming comments, and also a direct message function.
One school from North Yorkshire said: “If the profile is open, strangers can comment on your child’s videos.
“While this isn’t always sinister, it lets potential predators contact your child.”
According to a survey, half of 12-year-olds and more than 1 in 4 children aged ten have live streamed content over the internet using apps designed for users over the age of 13.
About a quarter of children aged 10 to 16 said they or their friend regretted what they had shared online.
Chief Executive Javed Khan said: “When we think of young people who have been sexually exploited, a stereotypically ‘vulnerable’ child may come to mind; someone in the care system, who doesn’t have a reliable support network or who is disengaged with education.
“But the fact is that any child can become the victim of sexual exploitation or abuse, even children in loving, stable families.
“Without the right security settings, children broadcasting live video of themselves over the internet could be targeted by abusers in their bedrooms.
“It’s vital that parents get to know and understand the technology their children are using and make sure they have appropriate security settings in place. They should also talk to their children about sex and relationships and the possible risks and dangers online so children feel able to confide in them if something doesn’t feel right.
“We are also calling for a legal duty on technology companies to prevent children being harmed online.”
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