'Use of social media has changed landscape of abuse, with videos of animal cruelty shared for likes'

RSPCA highlights 'incredibly worrying' rise in reports of animals being abused online

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REPORTS of animal cruelty on social media have risen by 27 per cent so far this year, according to the RSPCA.

The animal charity has reported that it saw 133 reports compared to 104 from the same time period last year.

It also received 2,600 reports of cruelty on social media over the last six years, and there was an eight per cent increase from 2023 to 2024, with 25 reports made to the charity every month last year.

Facebook had the most cruelty of any platform with 1,526 reports, followed by Instagram (499) and TikTok (221).

The RSPCA has released the startling new statistics as part of its Summer Cruelty Campaign to show the side of this season which many people don’t see - when animal cruelty peaks.