SPECIAL REPORT: Mum's sickening discovery after daughter, 11, groomed by secret Spotify abuse network. sophiehrMEN investigates
A mum-of-two was "sickened" to learn her 11-year-old daughter had been sexually groomed by a secret porn community on Spotify for months.
Her daughter was sent an email from one user who she'd met on Spotify who claimed to be a 12-year-old boy, who asked her to send a video of her pleasuring herself. Another user named "I have nudes" tagged her in a playlist with a message asking her to "show a good view" of her genital area. Neither of them have been allowed to create Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram or TikTok profiles. The only app Rachel, a teacher, allowed her 11-year-old to use without control was Spotify - so she could listen to podcasts before bed.
Rachel said she and her husband only discovered the extent of what their daughter had been exposed to when she was locked out of her Spotify account shortly after Christmas. "I asked her how because you can't message people on Spotify. She told me you make a new playlist and you put your message in the title and they check the playlist and reply."
'Police said they'd never seen this before' Rachel said she put her daughter to bed and immediately called the 111 police service. She describes feeling "shocked" when the call handler asked her to phone 999. Greater Manchester Police have been approached by the M.E.N for comment about the investigation but they are yet to respond.
The M.E.N understands the NSPCC have not seen this type of grooming on Spotify before, as they warned Rachel's story demonstrates the evolving threat to children online. If you are on a train, you can text the British Transport Police. Information on routes of travel, addresses, appearance, and behaviour of a child can all help to protect young people.If you have information on child exploitation and abuse or suspect it may be happening but want to remain completely anonymous, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online or on the phone.
Technology companies will still have to stop children - defined as those under 18 - from seeing content that poses a risk of causing significant harm. Firms will also have to explain how they will check their users' age.
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