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April 23, 2025 – Tallahassee, FL
In a bold legal decision, states like Florida have filed an action against Snap Inc., the parent company behind Snapchat, accusing the tech giant of intentionally making its platform a narcotic for children and misleading parents regarding its security.
On April 22, Florida filed a lawsuit in Santa Rosa County Circuit Court. The lawsuit asserts that Snapchat uses features like infinite scrolling, auto-playing videos, push notifications, and addictive algorithms. These features lure youngsters into spending more time on the app. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier claims these features violate a 2024 law. The law prohibits platforms from targeting children with compulsive engagement.
Uthmeier claimed, “Snapchat has knowingly exploited Florida’s children while presenting itself as a safe platform for teenagers.” The company issued a statement and made it public with the following statement: “Children’s mental health suffers as a result of parental misinformation.”
The lawsuit further claims that Snapchat fails to effectively block users under 13 from registering on the platform and does not verify parental consent for users aged 14 to 15, as required by the latest Florida law. It also alleges that Snapchat exposes minors to inappropriate content, including sexually explicit material.
Snap Inc. responded to the allegations by saying they believe that the Florida law is in violation of the constitutional liberty of expression. Snap also stressed the need for security solutions for internet users to be addressed at either the shopfront or the device level. They also argued that state laws create unnecessary fragmentation.
This legal action comes amid the increasing attention to social media firms across the nation. Florida is also taking legal action against Meta Platforms, the parent company behind Facebook and Instagram, with similar concerns related to addiction in youth and mental health.
Families across the U.S. have already sued Snap Inc. Some lawsuits involve wrongful death cases. These cases allege that the platform enabled access to illicit drugs. This led to fatal overdoses among teenagers.
The legal battle continues as part of a broader national discussion. This debate focuses on the role of tech companies in protecting children. It also highlights the government’s responsibility in regulating the use of digital platforms.
For more details contact AtoZ Tech World today.
