January 19,2026
RED FM News Desk
Manitoba RCMP are investigating after a seven-year-old girl was manipulated into sending nude images to a man through Snapchat, underscoring growing concerns about the online sexual exploitation of children under 13.
Police say the incident came to light when the girl’s mother became suspicious and discovered explicit messages and images exchanged with an older man in the United Kingdom. The case has been referred to the RCMP’s national child exploitation centre and will also be shared with U.K. authorities.
Child protection experts report a significant rise in online luring cases involving young children over the past decade, noting that certain social media features can make it easier for predators to target minors.
Snapchat says it cooperates with law enforcement, has safeguards in place for younger users, and removes child sexual abuse material. However, the platform relies on users to self-report their age.
Winnipeg Police Service internet child exploitation unit detective sergeant Mike Olson has warned that age restrictions function more as a temporary barrier and are easily bypassed. He added that cases involving very young victims, once rare, have become increasingly common in recent years.
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