Over 200 South Yorkshire children and teenagers were victims of TikTok-related crime between 2023 and 2025
The shocking figures come as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government announced a social media ban
Over 200 South Yorkshire children and teenagers were victims of TikTok-related crime in the three years between 2023 and 2025, new figures reveal.
Of the 762 online offences recorded by South Yorkshire Police, 220 involved children aged under 18 - with a worrying 99 victims under the age of 13 and a further 83 aged under 16.
.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
A Freedom of Information request by JF Law also shows young adults faced significant dangers too, as the statistics show 134 victims aged between 18 and 25 over the three-year period.
The shocking figures come as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government announced a social media ban for children on Monday (June 15).
Dubbed the Australia-plus model, the prohibition seeks to go further than that introduced by antipodean Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s measures.
As well as being blocked from all major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X and Reddit, under 16s will no longer be able to live stream and unknown users will no longer be able to message children.
Announcing the move on Monday Sir Keir Starmer said: “I am not prepared to compromise on n the safety and happiness of our children. That is why this ban must happen.”
Reflecting on the issue in South Yorkshire, police figures show Sheffield emerged as the absolute epicentre - with 281 total offences. Incidents in the city rose from 68 in 2023 to 71 in 2024, before doubling to 142 last year.
Doncaster was the second hardest-hit area, accumulating 169 cases overall. Offences there dropped slightly from 50 to 43 between 2023 and 2024, but surged dramatically to 76 in 2025.
Rotherham also witnessed a steady upward trajectory, climbing from 45 offences in 2023 to 48 in 2024. The area peaked with 64 incidents last year, bringing its grand total to 157.
Barnsley bucked the late surge slightly, tracking 46 cases in 2023 and 54 in 2024, before dipping to 51 in 2025. Its total stood at 151 digital-related crimes.
When broken down into crime categories, violence against the person was overwhelmingly the most widespread type of TikTok crime across South Yorkshire, accounting for 540 offences.
This included 159 incidents in 2023, 158 in 2024, and 223 last year. Sexual offences emerged as a major crisis point, totalling 53 cases - rising from eight in 2023 to 33 last year.
Other serious incidents documented by local officers included 108 miscellaneous crimes against society. Public order offences accounted for 37 cases, while 16 thefts and four arson attacks were recorded.
Commenting on the South Yorkshire figures, Ellie Lamey, a Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) specialist, said the “sheer volume” of the cases was a “stark warning”.
She added: “We are seeing everyday platforms being weaponised by predators to target our youngest and most vulnerable, turning what should be a harmless online space into a digital hunting ground.
“The trauma inflicted by cyber-stalking, harassment, and online-facilitated abuse has profound, real-world consequences that can completely shatter a family's sense of security.”
South Yorkshire Police’s ‘Don’t be exposed’ campaign provides information and advice around how young people can stay safe online