Parents should ban their children from the “particularly addictive” Snapchat messaging app, the children’s commissioner has said.

Anne Longfield, who has previously warned parents to take more responsibility in monitoring their children’s use of social media, singled Snapchat out for particular criticism.

“For parents, I would just think, unless you’re very sure just don’t let your kids on Snapchat,” she told LBC today. She said that she wanted to meet operators of the platform to discuss mitigating the harm it could do and ensure they were preventing those under 13 from signing up.

Critics say social media firms are careless as to the emotional damage their products can cause especially younger users. Ms Longfield highlighted Snapchat’s “streak” system, which rewards users for consecutive days of