In a heartbreaking case that underscores the dangers of social media for young users, an 11-Year-Old Girl Sexually Abused by Stranger she added on Snapchat as part of a competition with her friend to achieve a high Snap score.
The incident, which culminated in a sentencing in Victoria’s county court in late April 2025, has reignited debates about the safety of social media platforms, particularly Snapchat’s Quick Add feature, and the adequacy of protections for children online. This blog explores the details of the case, the role of Snapchat’s features in facilitating the abuse, and the broader implications for child safety in the digital age.
The Tragic Case of April and the Snapchat Competition
In 2023, April and her best friend engaged in an informal competition to reach a Snap score of 100,000 points on Snapchat. The Snap score, a metric that reflects a user’s engagement on the platform, increases through activities like sending and receiving snaps, maintaining streaks (consecutive days of messaging), and adding friends.
To boost their scores, the girls used Snapchat’s Quick Add feature, which suggests potential friends based on shared interests or mutual connections, as determined by the platform’s algorithm.
Among the users April added was 23-year-old Jai Clapp, who falsely claimed to be 17. Over a 12-day period, Clapp groomed April through Snapchat, exploiting the app’s private messaging features to build trust. The grooming escalated to three in-person meetings at a local park in April’s hometown, where Clapp sexually abused her.
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The offenses, which included digital and penile penetration, were described by Judge Marcus Dempsey as “abhorrent.” Clapp pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years and 10 months in prison, with a non-parole period of four years and eight months, for the abuse of April and another girl.
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This case highlights the vulnerability of young users who may not fully understand the risks of interacting with strangers online. April’s pursuit of a high Snap score, driven by a seemingly harmless competition, led to catastrophic consequences. It raises critical questions about how social media platforms incentivize engagement and whether features like Quick Add prioritize user growth over safety.
Snapchat’s Quick Add Feature: A Double-Edged Sword
Snapchat’s Quick Add feature is designed to help users expand their friend networks by suggesting people to connect with based on algorithmic analysis of shared interests or mutual connections. While this can foster social interaction, it also creates opportunities for predators to access vulnerable users, particularly children.
In April’s case, the Quick Add feature enabled her to connect with Clapp, a stranger who exploited the platform’s design to initiate contact and grooming. Snap, Snapchat’s parent company, has defended the feature, stating that the app is designed for communication with real-life friends and that safeguards are in place to limit stranger interactions.
According to a Snap spokesperson, teens are only suggested in Quick Add or search results under “limited circumstances,” such as when they share numerous mutual friends. The company has also introduced “friending safeguards” to restrict who teens can see in Quick Add suggestions. Additionally, Snapchat claims to use language analysis and internal tools to estimate user ages and prevent those under 13 from accessing the platform.
However, these measures have proven insufficient. A February 2025 report by Australia’s eSafety commissioner revealed that 19% of children aged eight to 12 had used Snapchat in 2024, despite the platform’s minimum age requirement of 13.
Snap admitted to the commissioner that it had not conducted research to estimate the number of underage users in the first half of 2023, suggesting gaps in age verification and enforcement. Furthermore, the Quick Add feature’s reliance on algorithms can inadvertently connect children with predators, especially when age assurance measures fail.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) reported in November 2024 that 48% of the 7,000 sexual communication with child offenses recorded by UK police in 2023–2024 occurred on Snapchat, underscoring the platform’s role in facilitating such crimes.
Independent guides recommend that parents disable Quick Add to ensure only known contacts can connect with their children, but this places the burden on families rather than the platform to mitigate risks.
As Australia prepares to implement a social media ban for users under 16 in December 2025, Snapchat and other platforms have lobbied against the policy, emphasizing their existing safety tools. However, cases like April’s demonstrate that these tools are not foolproof, and features like Quick Add can be exploited in ways that endanger young users.
The Broader Implications for Child Safety Online
The abuse of April is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of online grooming and exploitation facilitated by social media platforms. The eSafety commissioner’s spokesperson emphasized that companies like Snap have a responsibility to ensure their platforms are safe, particularly when features like Quick Add can be misused.
The commissioner has expressed concern about social media features that provide predators with “a ready means” to access children, aided by algorithms that prioritize connectivity over safety.
The upcoming Australian social media ban for under-16s reflects growing recognition of these risks. By raising the minimum age for platforms like Snapchat, the government aims to protect children from exposure to harmful content and interactions.
However, the ban’s effectiveness remains uncertain, as children may find ways to circumvent age restrictions, and predators may exploit other platforms or apps. Moreover, the ban places significant responsibility on platforms to enforce age limits, which Snapchat’s track record suggests is challenging.
Beyond regulatory measures, there is a need for comprehensive education for children and parents about online safety. Children like April, who may view social media as a game or a space for friendly competition, need guidance to recognize the dangers of interacting with strangers.
Parents must be equipped to monitor their children’s online activities and configure app settings, such as disabling Quick Add, to minimize risks. Schools and communities can play a role in promoting digital literacy, teaching children to critically evaluate online interactions and prioritize their safety.
Snapchat and other platforms must also take proactive steps to enhance safety. This includes improving age verification technologies, limiting stranger interactions more stringently, and redesigning features like Quick Add to prioritize child protection.
For example, platforms could require manual approval for all friend requests from users outside a child’s immediate network or implement stricter criteria for suggesting connections to teens. Additionally, companies should invest in regular audits to assess the prevalence of underage users and the effectiveness of safety measures.
The case also underscores the importance of law enforcement and judicial systems in addressing online abuse. Clapp’s conviction and sentencing demonstrate accountability, but prevention must be the priority.
Collaboration between governments, tech companies, and child protection organizations is essential to create a safer digital environment. Initiatives like the eSafety commissioner’s work in Australia and the NSPCC’s advocacy in the UK highlight the need for ongoing vigilance and innovation in combating online grooming.
Ultimately, April’s story is a tragic reminder of the human cost of inadequate online safety measures. It challenges us to rethink how social media platforms are designed and regulated, ensuring they serve as spaces for connection rather than exploitation. As technology evolves, so must our approaches to protecting the most vulnerable users, ensuring that children can navigate the digital world without fear.