TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier has initiated legal proceedings against Snap, Inc., the company behind the social media platform Snapchat. The lawsuit alleges that Snap has violated Florida statutes, specifically last year’s HB 3 and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
“We take the safety and security of children very seriously, and as part of our mission to make Florida the best place to raise a family, we are holding social media platforms that harm children accountable,” stated Attorney General James Uthmeier. He accused Snap of misleading parents about the risks children face on Snapchat, citing issues such as behavioral addictive features and the potential for exposure to sexual predators and drug dealers.
The HB 3 statute, passed last year and signed by Gov. DeSantis, targets five addictive design features in social media that could result in behavioral addiction and compulsive use. Snapchat reportedly uses four of these features: infinite scrolling, push notifications, personal interactive metrics like SnapStreaks, and autoplay videos.
The law also bans platforms with these features from providing accounts to users under 13 and requires parental consent for users aged 14 and 15. Despite acknowledging its obligations under HB 3 in other legal matters, Snap allegedly continues to portray Snapchat as safe for children aged 13 and above, disregarding the potential exposure to pornography, drug transactions, and other dangers. The lawsuit claims this constitutes deception toward parents.
The legal filing further highlights additional threats facing minors on Snapchat, including exposure to inappropriate content such as profanity, substance use, sexual material, and mature themes. The ease with which predators or drug dealers can contact minors is also noted as a significant concern.
To access a copy of the lawsuit, click here.
