Utah Sues Snapchat, Alleging Child Addiction and Exploitation
Table of Contents
- Utah Sues Snapchat, Alleging Child Addiction and Exploitation
- Lawsuit Claims Snapchat Exploits Children for Profit
- Specific Allegations Against Snapchat
- Examples of Snapchat’s “Lax Oversight”
- Snapchat as a “Virtual Market” for Illegal Activities
- Gambling-Like Features and AI concerns
- Social Media and Child Safety: A Growing Concern
- Evergreen Insights: The Evolution of Social Media Regulation
- Frequently Asked Questions About Snapchat and Child Safety
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.”
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]].
| Allegation | Description |
|---|---|
| Addictive Design | Features designed to exploit children’s psychological vulnerabilities. |
| Misrepresentation of Safety | Presenting snapchat as a safe platform while failing to protect users. |
| Privacy Violations | Failing to inform users about data collection practices. |
| Facilitation of Illegal Activities | Platform used for drug sales, sexual exploitation, and other unlawful acts. |
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?
The debate surrounding social media regulation is not new. From early concerns about online privacy to current discussions about misinformation and child safety, governments and advocacy groups have long sought to establish guidelines and hold platforms accountable.The challenge lies in balancing free speech principles with the need to protect vulnerable populations. As technology advances, regulatory frameworks must adapt to address emerging threats and ensure a safe online surroundings for all users.
Frequently Asked Questions About Snapchat and Child Safety
Why is Utah suing Snapchat?
Utah is suing snapchat, alleging that the platform’s design features are addictive to children, harm their mental health, and facilitate illegal activities such as drug sales and sexual exploitation.
what are the specific allegations against Snapchat?
The lawsuit claims that Snapchat designed addictive features to exploit children’s vulnerabilities for financial gain, misrepresented itself as a safe platform, and violated the Utah Consumer Privacy Act by not properly informing users about data collection practices.
What examples of harm are cited in the Snapchat lawsuit?
The lawsuit provides several examples of instances where adults used Snapchat to groom and sexually assault minors in Utah.
What features of Snapchat are considered problematic?
Features like ephemeral messages, Snapstreaks, push notifications, beauty filters, personalization algorithms, and Snap Map are identified as potentially addictive and harmful. The lawsuit also targets Snapchat’s AI technology, My AI, for extracting information from children.
What does Utah hope to achieve with the Snapchat lawsuit?
Utah seeks a court-ordered penalty and other relief to compel Snapchat to prioritize the well-being of children over profit and to end practices that exploit Utah’s youth.
How does Snapchat’s ‘Ghost Mode’ function?
Even when ‘Ghost Mode’ is activated, My AI collects user geolocation data.
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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