Eton bans Snapchat over concerns it could be used for sexting

Headmaster Tony Little says the app is blocked from the school’s wireless network – but boys could still be accessing it via 3G

Eton's headmaster said the school wanted to 'make boys think twice' about using Snapchat by blocking it from the wifi network (Getty Images)

Eton College has banned pupils from accessing Snapchat on the school’s wifi network, amid concerns the app could be used for sending sexual images.

The messaging service, which deletes images and videos after they have been viewed and whose CEO recently rejected a $3 billion takeover bid from Facebook, has unwittingly developed a reputation for being used as a platform for sexting.

As a result, the app has now been added to a list of programmes which are blocked on the school’s wireless network – though that won’t necessarily stop boys getting their hands on it altogether.

Headmaster Tony Little told the Sunday Telegraph: “It is blocked from the Eton wireless internet system.”

He added: “Boys can still use it via the 3G phone network, but we hope that blocking it on our network will, at least, make them think twice.

“This is part of our continuing effort to educate boys in the sensible use of technology.”

Eton has previously said it doesn’t want to be the “last dinosaur standing” when it comes to the use of and education about technology in schools. In November the head of the school’s online team, Percy Harrison, told the Times they were working on collaborating with London-based tech entrepreneurs, and said: “Twenty years from now what happens in school will be dramatically different.”

Snapchat has recently suffered from security concerns after a group of hackers posted the account details of more than 4.6 million users online.

Last year its 23-year-old co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel was reported to have turned down an offer from Facebook of $3 billion (£1.9 billion) for his young firm.