It was not immediately clear which social media platforms Edwards used to contact the minor, Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said.
While several social media platforms, including Instagram and Snapchat, have geographical tagging features, Gonzalez could not confirm whether Edwards found the Price Court address through online stalking or by soliciting the child. Detective Robert Olsen, who specializes in investigating online child exploitation, said fostering online safety starts from the moment children have internet access.
Once authorities uncover which platforms were used for communication between Edwards and the teen, warrants will be issued to specific companies, Olsen explained. In an email, Snapchat officials said “there are no browsable public profiles for under 18s; friend lists are not public” and that “by default, teens have to be mutual friends before they can start communicating with each other. Teens are also not able to change their default settings to “everyone” – the only options available to them are “friends” or “friends and contacts.”