The Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) has announced a manhunt for an individual suspected of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old he met on social media site ‘Tiktok’ in St Catherine.

The police have not yet released the name of the suspect, but state that his supposed actions have put him in breach of the ‘Sexual Offences Act’, which states the age of consent is 16, and any sexual activities done with a person below that age can be classified as rape.

According to the authorities, the alleged perpetrator, who is believed to be 24 years of age, reached out to the 12-year-old on the Tiktok platform in December 2024. The two developed a friendship, with the accused having then invited her to his home on Friday, May 30 2025.

During this meeting, the man is suspected of having cajoled the girl into having intercourse with him. Afterwards, the minor told her family of the incident, who immediately reported it to the police.

TikTok has already come under scrutiny abroad for its alleged lax security, with several children having been assaulted or abused through app. In the United States, the American Congress has even passed a bill calling for it to be banned in the US, though such a policy has yet to be implemented.

During a Jamaica Constabulary Force’s ‘Force4Good’ Podcast earlier in the year, the superintendent in charge of the CISOCA branch, Kerry-Ann Bailey, noted that many digital platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram, longside online games like Roblox, were being used by nefarious individuals to both groom and exploit the children that were active on them.

“Children and teens are flocking to digital spaces, sometimes unsupervised, where adults with malicious intent are lurking,” she commented. “These perpetrators take advantage of children’s openness and build trust, often leading to exploitation.”

Bailey stated that she had received reports of children being asked personal and inappropriate questions online, often about their family and whereabouts, with many young boys and girls answering, completely unaware of the risk.

In light of these challenges, the superintendent recommends that parents and guardians be far more vigilant and observant of their children’s activities on the internet and elsewhere. According to her, when children begin having adult conversations online, they often become more secretive, which can be a clear sign that something is wrong.

“Keep open access to your child’s device to regularly review browser history, messages, and social media interactions,” Bailey suggested. “This ensures that parents can quickly detect and address any concerning behaviour.”