The instances of recording grooming has been increasing since the offence of Sexual Communication with a Child came into force in 2017, reaching a new record high of 7,062 this year.
Of the 1,824 cases where the platform was known last year, 48% were recorded on Snapchat.
The number of grooming offences recorded on Snapchat has risen each year since 2018/19.
Reported grooming offences on WhatsApp also rose slightly in the past year. On Instagram and Facebook, known cases have fallen over recent years, according to the figures. All three platforms are owned by Meta.
WhatsApp told the it has “robust safety measures” in place to protect people on its app.
Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said social media companies “have a responsibility to stop this vile abuse from happening on their platforms”.
In a statement, she added: “Under the Online Safety Act they will have to stop this kind of illegal content being shared on their sites, including on private and encrypted messaging services or face significant fines.”
The Online Safety Act includes a legal requirement for tech platforms to keep children safe.
From December, big tech firms will have to publish their risk assessments on illegal harms on their platforms.
Media regulator Ofcom, which will enforce those rules, said: “Our draft codes of practice include robust measures that will help prevent grooming by making it harder for perpetrators to contact children.
“We’re prepared to use the full extent of our enforcement powers against any companies that come up short when the time comes.”
