Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram grooming becoming 'quicker and easier'

Nicolau said children spending more time online meant they were increasingly vulnerable to grooming, which is "easier" and "quicker" than ever before.

"With online gaming and social media, you have kids from five years old online, some of them have their own phones, so it can be any age," she said.

She works with schools to inform children how to be safe online, but said they are often unaware of the risks, including not viewing people they meet online as…