The NSPCC has called for children to be sent automatic alerts if they are at risk of grooming
Social media companies must do more to protect children from online grooming.
The NSPCC has called for children to be sent automatic alerts if they are at risk. Youngsters could be sent warning messages, for example, if they were contacted by a suspcious account.
A total of 1,316 offences were recorded in the first six months of a new child grooming law being introduced last year in England and Wales.
Tony Stower, head of child safety online at the NSPCC, said: "Despite the staggering number of grooming offences in just six months, government and social networks are not properly working together and using all the tools available to stop this crime from happening.
"The government's Internet Safety Strategy must require social networks to build in technology to keep their young users safe, rather than relying on police to step in once harm has already been done."
Of the cases recorded, the youngest victim was a seven-year-old girl, although girls aged between 12 and 15 were the most likely to be targeted by predators.
Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat were the most common sites used by offenders, making up 63% of all incidents.
Facebook has said it is already using technology to identify grooming behaviour – but the charity said an existing voluntary code of practice does not go far enough and has called for a mandatory code to be put in place.
