Norwegian teens unwillingly exposed to violent Snapchat group

Young people around Tromsö, Norway, have been added against their will to a Snapchat group that posts sexual and violent content about young people in the community. Video clips of animal abuse have also been uploaded.

Snapchat is a photo-sharing application where people communicate by sending pictures or videos that disappear. These are often referred to as “snaps”. It is possible to send messages to individuals or post to a ‘story’ and participate in group chats. These groups can be joined against their will, where users can then share content with everyone in the group.

One mother in Tromso was woken up at 3am by her crying daughter, who told her she had been added to a Snapchat group that shared horrific videos. There were videos of penises, boys masturbating, and even boys being beaten. There were also videos of drunk girls and even animal abuse. It was clear from the videos that the victims were underage.

“Then there’s a boy lying on the floor, obviously drunk. They film his genitals and punch him in the face”, the mother told Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

Could be a crime

The mother also said it was clear that the content came from Tromsø or nearby municipalities. The daughter, who is in high school, recognized one of the girls in the video. The participants in the group were also from nearby municipalities. Several people were added against their will and tried to leave the group, only to be forced back in.

After the mother went on social media about the group, it was shut down, but evidence has been turned over to the police for investigation.

“We are currently investigating the case. The police are working to find out what was shared. If there is anything in what was shared or the sharing itself that could constitute a crime, we will make it a priority to find out who is behind it”, says prosecutor Jacob Bergh.

Snapchat is used by about 3.4 million Norwegians, according to Statista. In Sweden, 4.3 million people use the app. Across Scandinavia, 90 percent of people between the ages of 13 and 24 use the app, according to the website Influens. Although there is a 13-year-old limit, about one in three children under 13 use the app in Sweden, according to Schibsted newspaper Aftonbladet.