Teenagers used Snapchat’s location feature to track and attack 13 year old Sofia Todd in Paisley

A disturbing new low in social media abuse has surfaced, with Snapchat being used to ‘hunt’ down and brutally assault a 13-year-old girl in Paisley, Scotland. The terrifying attack, which took place at a restaurant, has sparked widespread outrage and highlighted the serious safety risks posed by social media apps, particularly Snapchat’s location-sharing feature.

Sofia Todd, a local schoolgirl, was enjoying a meal with her friends when two classmates, who had tracked her down using Snapchat, launched a savage assault. Despite Sofia’s best efforts to block them on the app, the attackers circumvented her privacy by creating a new account to continue harassing her. This resulted in a violent confrontation that was captured on camera by an accomplice.

The horrific video, which has since gone viral, shows Sofia being yanked from her seat by her hair, knocked to the ground, and repeatedly beaten. Witnesses to the attack were left horrified by the brutal scenes, with many questioning how such an event could unfold in broad daylight, aided by the very technology that is meant to connect people.

Sofia’s mother, Eleonora Paluzzi, expressed her deep distress over the incident, revealing that her daughter sustained serious injuries, including a sprained ankle and concussion, from the attack. The emotional toll on Sofia, who is now struggling to come to terms with the trauma, is compounded by the fact that the bullying had been ongoing for some time before culminating in this violent assault.

The police have already investigated the matter and reported the two primary perpetrators to the authorities. However, the incident has ignited wider concerns about the role of social media platforms like Snapchat in enabling such incidents to occur. Despite the app’s policies that prohibit content glorifying violence, critics argue that these safety measures are inadequate and fail to protect vulnerable users, particularly young people.

The attack has prompted renewed calls for stronger regulations around social media platforms, with the Daily Record’s ‘Our Kids… Our Future’ campaign calling for immediate action. The campaign advocates for tighter controls over how social media companies handle user data and protect children from being exploited or targeted in harmful ways.

Local MSP Jamie Greene condemned the attack as ‘shocking,’ emphasising the urgent need for greater protections for children online. He echoed the growing public sentiment that tech companies must be held accountable for the risks their platforms pose to minors. Greene further urged for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents from happening in the future and to ensure that social media platforms prioritise the safety of their youngest users.

A spokesperson from Snapchat responded to the incident by reaffirming that the platform prohibits content that glorifies violence. However, the company’s response has done little to quell the anger from parents, educators, and lawmakers who believe that more must be done to prevent such dangerous situations from arising in the first place.

As Sofia’s community rallies around her, her mother’s message is clear: action must be taken to safeguard children from the toxic and harmful effects of social media abuse. The experience has left a lasting scar on Sofia, and her family is determined to ensure that no other child has to endure such a traumatic event.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking behind the screens of social media apps and the pressing need for enhanced regulations to protect children from harm in the digital age.