Disappearing Photos: The Next Online Grooming Technique for Child Molesters
By Robert Hugh Farley, M.S.
Introduction
Teens and tweens regularly send and receive photos throughout the day on their cell phones. The photos can be emailed or texted; or they can be shared using a variety of photo sharing programs and social media platforms.
One of the most popular new photo-sharing applications is a free cell phone application (app) called Snapchat. This program is different from other picture sharing programs because Snapchat photos or videos will self-destruct seconds after they are received.
Good vs. Bad
The program is simple to use. After taking a photo, one selects how long the recipient will view the photo, which is anywhere from two to ten seconds. One can also add additional recipients or even select a group when sending an image. For identification purposes, the cell phone app icon for the Snapchat software is a smiling ghost, which is a good preview of one of the best-known features of the app. When one uses the Snapchat app, the photos are initially stored somewhere on the company servers. Snapchat claims that they delete the transmitted images after the established timeframe, but it is strictly up to Snapchat to keep its word that the photos have not only been deleted but also erased completely.
There is an old adage that says, “Once a photo is posted on the Internet it is there forever.” With Snapchat, a user might think silly or even inappropriate photos can be sent without the concern of an unintended audience.
Unfortunately, the Snapchat feature of disappearing photos lures users into a false sense of security. Unbeknownst to many, there are a variety of techniques for the recipient to keep the photo before it actually vanishes.
For example, one technique is for a recipient to use a specialized cell phone or tablet app, widely available on the market, which allows one to take a screen capture of the photo. A screen capture is a copy of the screen's entire contents that can be saved as a graphics file onto the device. On computers running Windows, a screen capture can easily be facilitated using an MS Word program by tapping the PrtSc (print screen) key and then right clicking on the paste option. Screen capture using Apple computers is achieved by holding down the Command + Shift + 4 keys and then using the select tool to outline the area one wishes to capture, thereby automatically saving the graphic file to the desktop. The simplest technique to save the Snapchat photo is for one to photograph the picture using another cell phone or a camera.
Child Molesters
Molesters use technology and the anonymity of the Internet to build trust and then develop intimate relationships with potential victims. Snapchat and other similar programs, such as the Poke app (a virtually identical program recently released by Facebook), offer the molester nearly complete security from a parent’s prying eyes.
As part of the online grooming process, child molesters will frequently encourage the victim to create a free email account, such as a Gmail account, for “private communication" with one another. When the private email account has been activated, the molester will email inappropriate or pornographic photos of himself or herself, telling the victim to look at them and then delete them. With Snapchat, the extra step of procuring an email account is unnecessary because the photos will self-destruct just seconds after they are received.
Additionally, child molesters commonly encourage potential victims to send photos or videos of themselves so the molester can see “how beautiful the child is.” With Snapchat, the victim is given the false assurance that the images will be deleted shortly after they are received, although the abuser might save them for his or her personal use or for trading with other offenders.
Conclusion
Technology continues to change rapidly. Parents, teachers and all of us must continue our efforts to stay abreast of the many new programs and applications, such as Snapchat, that can be used by molesters to manipulate and abuse children.