some Snap accounts, depending on the user’s preferences, can be added via location alone, and usually at a fairly large range. Instagram, even if private, is a request away from access. These assailants do not go around with #predator on their profiles, but rather gain access through a friendly message, which opens the door to grotesque lawbreaking.

If you’re thinking, “these kids would never add someone they don’t know!,” I just want to point out that (1) if you only know kids who wouldn’t add someone they don’t know, that is excellent and their parents can be reassured in their effective internet safety teachings. However, (2), you have to ask yourself if the kids who become victimized by these perpetrators are making safe internet decisions, such as only adding people they know personally. Likely, unfortunately, they are not. A good offense against live pedophilia is good defense from internet threats.

Finally, you have to consider what apps kids today are likely to be using. Sure, you may have older teens looking for friends in their niche interest groups on Bumble, however the age limit is technically 18+, as is the same with Tinder and Grindr, though there is an underage presence there that must be stamped out by the companies. Long story short, the majority of today’s youth use Instagram (and to a lesser extent Facebook), TikTok, and SnapChat. To wrap this all up, there are many ways predators reach unsuspecting youth, and will continue to perpetuate due to our ignorance of how and where these assailants operate. By dismissing this redditor’s argument, you have effectively dismissed every child victim from any of the various social media sites of which you lack basic understanding.