Paedophiles Targeting Single Mums on Dating Apps to Prey on their Kids

Researchers have found that paedophiles are targeting single mothers on dating apps in order to exploit their children.

This has prompted urgent calls for stronger regulation of such platforms.

The Swipe Wrong report, co-led by the University of Edinburgh and the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute, found two in three offenders use dating apps. More than 22% use them every day.

It said child sexual exploitation and abuse is now a “pandemic” impacting over 300 million children globally each year.

Professor Deborah Fry, global director of data at Childlight and professor of international child protection research at the University of Edinburgh, said:

“Child sexual exploitation and abuse is a global public health emergency that requires emergency measures but it’s preventable.

“We must mobilise globally, focusing not just on reactive law enforcement but on prevention strategies tackling underlying determinants of abuse, including financial and technological ecosystems sustaining it.”

The study, which surveyed around 5,000 men across the UK, US and Australia, found those who abuse children are almost four times more likely to use dating platforms than non-offenders.

It also found that 11% of men admitted to committing sexual offences against children.

Another 11.5% said they had sexual feelings towards children.

Offenders are also more likely to engage in certain online behaviours.

This includes using cryptocurrency, purchasing sexual content, and spending more time on gaming and shopping platforms.

The findings align with a separate survey by the Australian Institute of Criminology, which revealed that 12% of dating app users had been asked to facilitate child sexual exploitation, often involving their own children.

Experts warn many dating apps still lack basic safeguards.

Most do not require ID verification, allowing perpetrators to create multiple anonymous accounts and target vulnerable users, particularly single mothers.

Professor Michael Salter, report co-author and director of the Childlight East Asia and Pacific Hub at the University of New South Wales, said:

“Our findings provide clear evidence that dating apps lack adequate child protection measures, and loopholes are exploited by abusers to target single parents and their children.

“There’s no reason why the robust user identification methods we have in other industries, such as banking and gambling, should not also have to be adopted by dating app platforms.

“Similarly, there are a range of AI tools and systems that can flag problematic words and conversations that can and should be used.”

The report warned that offenders often appear trustworthy.

Many have higher education, work with children, or live in households where children are present.

Swipe Wrong is part of a wider investigation into the global child abuse economy.

Researchers say the multibillion-pound industry continues to thrive, benefitting perpetrators, organised crime groups and in some cases, mainstream tech companies.

The authors say urgent reform is needed to protect children and prevent abuse before it happens.