Utah Sues Snapchat, Alleging Child Addiction and Exploitation

SALT LAKE CITY-Utah has initiated legal action against Snap, Inc., the parent company of Snapchat and Bitmoji, alleging the platform employs deceptive tactics that lead to child addiction and contribute to various illegal activities. Governor spencer cox,Attorney General Derek Brown,and Department of Commerce Executive Director Margaret Busse jointly announced the lawsuit,marking the fourth such action by the state against major social media companies.

Lawsuit Claims Snapchat Exploits Children for Profit

The lawsuit asserts that Snapchat’s design intentionally exploits the psychological vulnerabilities of children for financial gain, constituting an unconscionable business practice under Utah law. It further alleges that Snap misrepresented itself as a safe alternative to customary social media while failing to adequately protect its young users [[1]].

“Utah is committed to protecting our children in the digital age. This lawsuit against Snap is about accountability and ensuring that the well-being of our children takes precedence over corporate profits,” stated Gov. Cox. “We will not stand idly by while tech companies exploit young users.It’s time for common-sense protections that ensure a safer online experience for every minor.”

Did You Know? Snapchat’s user base is heavily skewed towards younger demographics, with a significant portion of users being teenagers and young adults.

Specific Allegations Against Snapchat

The complaint outlines several key allegations:

• Snap designed addictive and risky features into its platform to exploit children’s psychological vulnerabilities for financial gain, constituting an unconscionable business practice under state law.
• Snap publicly positioned itself as a safe alternative to traditional social media while deceiving users and their parents about the platform’s safety and the resources Snap committed to protecting them.
• Snap is violating the Utah Consumer Privacy Act by not informing consumers about its data collection and processing practices and failing to provide users or their parents with an prospect to opt out of sharing sensitive data, such as biometric and geolocation information.

The state argues that Snap’s practices are akin to “peddling digital nicotine to kids,” seeking penalties and court orders to force the company to prioritize child welfare over profits. The lawsuit aims to highlight the severe consequences of exploiting Utah’s youth and put an end to these harmful practices.

Examples of Snapchat’s “Lax Oversight”

The lawsuit details four specific instances where Snapchat’s alleged lack of oversight resulted in harm to Utah children:

• 2021: A 27-year-old man from Salt Lake City groomed three girls between 12 and 14 years old on Snapchat, promising them marijuana and nicotine. The man took the girls to a nearby park and sexually assaulted them. He pled guilty in November 2023.
• March 2023: A South Jordan man used a teen’s Snapchat account to lure a 13-year-old girl into his car, where he sexually assaulted her. He was later charged with child kidnapping, child rape, sexual exploitation of a minor, and sodomy of a child.
• october 2024: A Riverton man was accused of sexually assaulting multiple victims he found through Snapchat throughout Salt Lake Valley. In one instance, the man sexually assaulted a 16-year-old he had been grooming on the platform since she was 15.
• April 2025: A 23-year-old man from Herriman was arrested for alleged sexual abuse of an elementary-aged girl he met on Snapchat.

These cases underscore the potential dangers of online interactions and the need for robust safety measures on social media platforms.

Snapchat as a “Virtual Market” for Illegal Activities

Despite advertising “extra protections” for teens, the lawsuit claims that “Snapchat has become a virtual market for drug cartels.” Utah officials arrested a drug dealer running a “truly massive” drug ring through Snapchat in 2019. This ring openly advertised narcotics and arranged deals on the platform, linking black market THC cartridges to “almost every high school in the Salt Lake valley.”

Pro Tip: Parents should regularly monitor their children’s online activity and have open conversations about online safety.

Gambling-Like Features and AI concerns

The lawsuit also points to several features as being akin to gambling, including ephemeral messages, Snapstreaks, push notifications, beauty filters, personalization algorithms, and Snap Map. These features, it is indeed argued, are designed to keep users engaged and addicted to the platform.

Furthermore, the lawsuit raises concerns about Snapchat’s AI technology, “my AI,” claiming it “uses dark patterns to extract information from children.” The complaint states that “My AI is prominently placed at the top of user’s chat, even before the user’s real, human friends, and is automatically enabled for all Snapchat users. My AI cannot be removed from the app,” and that “My AI collects user geolocation data even when ‘Ghost Mode’ is activated.”

Social Media and Child Safety: A Growing Concern

Utah’s lawsuit against Snapchat is part of a broader trend of increased scrutiny and legal action against social media companies regarding their impact on children’s mental health and safety. As social media continues to evolve, the debate over regulation and corporate responsibility is likely to intensify [[2]].

What steps can parents take to protect their children on social media? Should social media companies be held more accountable for the content and interactions on their platforms?

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and should not be considered legal advice. Consult with a legal professional for advice tailored to yoru specific situation.

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