Social media sites ‘are used to sell illegal drugs to teens’

CHILDREN as young as 13 are using social media sites such as Instagram and Snapchat to buy drugs, experts claimed yesterday.

The trend has developed in the past 18 months, according to youth workers who say dealers use hashtags and emojis to advertise what they stock.

And buying through the sites means young people are more likely to buy the substances from strangers, a more dangerous way of obtaining drugs.

Nick Hickmott, of the charity Young Addaction, said: ‘In the last 18 months we have gone from this way of getting drugs not being mentioned at all among the young people we work with to now nearly every young person talking about it. It is disturbing.’

He claimed that the picturesharing apps Instagram and Snapchat tended to be the platforms most used for dealing.

While cannabis is currently the most prevalent drug sold via social media, dealers are also using the sites to sell Ecstasy.

Xanax, a drug used to treat anxiety disorders, has also been touted via the apps. Most deals then take place on other platforms, such as the encrypted messenger app Wickr. Mr Hickmott said his organisation, the youth branch of Addaction, Britain’s largest drug and alcohol charity, worked with youngsters aged ten to 24. But many of those it helped were aged 13 to 17. ‘They are the ones talking about this and the reason we are seeing this rise is because of the growth of social media,’ he told The Guardian.

Mr Hickmott said his biggest concern was for teenagers buying from strangers. ‘Essentially, if a dealer knows you, they are far less likely to want to see you ripped off or end up in hospital,’ he said.

Statistics suggest Snapchat has around 178million daily active users and is increasingly popular with teenagers.

Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, said it encouraged people to report any content that could violate its guidelines. A spokesman told The Guardian: ‘We encourage anyone who comes across content like this to report it via our in-built reporting tools.’

Snapchat said it took its responsibility to create a safe and secure experience seriously. It had ‘an active trust and safety team’ that responded to reports and concerns within 24 hours. A spokesman added: ‘There is no place for selling drugs on Snapchat.’

Meanwhile, web giants could face a tax crackdown if they fail to help the authorities fight terrorism. Security minister Ben Wallace branded firms such Facebook and YouTube ‘ruthless profiteers’ which are prepared to sell on personal data but not hand it to the security services.

His comments, to The Sunday Times, prompted speculation the firms could face a ‘windfall tax’.

Facebook said he was wrong to say it put profit before safety. YouTube said it was committed to being ‘part of the solution’.

Comment – Page 14

‘Ripped off or in hospital’