Florida sues Snapchat for ‘addictive design features,’ failing to protect kids


Summary

Florida lawsuit

Snapchat is being sued by Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier for allegedly using addictive features that pose risks to children without adequate safeguards.

Addictive design features

The lawsuit highlights features like infinite scrolling and push notifications, accusing Snapchat of violating a Florida law designed to protect young users.

Snapchat's defense

Snapchat claims the Florida law is unconstitutional and fails to properly address age verification, while also threatening users' privacy rights.


Summary

Florida lawsuit

Snapchat is being sued by Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier for allegedly using addictive features that pose risks to children without adequate safeguards.

Addictive design features

The lawsuit highlights features like infinite scrolling and push notifications, accusing Snapchat of violating a Florida law designed to protect young users.

Snapchat's defense

Snapchat claims the Florida law is unconstitutional and fails to properly address age verification, while also threatening users' privacy rights.


Full story

Snapchat is facing another lawsuit, this time from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. The app known for sharing videos and photos is being accused of using features that are addictive to children without putting barriers in place to protect them.

The lawsuit joins the growing conversation from states, attorneys general, lawmakers and parents about the responsibility social media companies have to keep their platforms safe for children. 

Florida AG sues Snapchat over addictive features

The complaint filed on Tuesday, April 22, outlines that Snap Inc. claims its profiles are safe for teens as young as 13, but those profiles can still access pornography and other material harmful to children. Although parental consent is required for teen users aged 14 and 15, Uthmeier said Snapchat is not adding safeguards. 

“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,” Attorney General Uthmeier said. “Snap is deceiving Florida parents about the dangers children face on the app, from behavioral addictive features to allowing sexual predators and drug dealers access, and we cannot allow this deception to continue.”

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Lawsuit centers on Florida state law

The lawsuit centers around a Florida statute signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024 and the Deceptive and Unfair Trades Practices Act. Florida lawmakers passed the statute, HB 3, to identify five “addictive design features” that social media platforms may use.

According to court documents, Florida authorities accuse Snapchat of using at least four “addictive design features,” including infinite scrolling, push notifications, personal interactive metrics and autoplay videos. 

Florida law bars social media platforms that use these types of functions from allowing users 13 years or younger to make an account. If the user is 14 or 15 years old, the law requires them to obtain parental consent before activating an account.

The complaint documents that “Snap has millions of users in the State of Florida, including tens of thousands of users who are under 16 years old. Snap generates millions of dollars of annual revenue by making Snapchat available to users in Florida.”

Snapchat defends design, says Florida law is unconstitutional

In a statement to multiple news outlets, a spokesperson for Snapchat said Florida’s law violated the First Amendment and people’s privacy.

“This law does not adequately address age verification and infringes on the First Amendment rights of adults and young people while also opening Floridians up to data protection and privacy issues,” the company said. “We believe there are more privacy-conscious solutions to online safety and managing age verification, including at the operating system, app store, or device level.” 

Snap also points to pending litigation against HB 3, which is currently challenging its constitutionality. The tech company claims Florida is trying to bypass the issues being argued in federal court. 

Tech groups sue Florida over 2024 law

NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association are behind the lawsuit. The two groups argue the law blocks access to free speech and doesn’t keep Floridians safer online. They cite cybercrime statistics showing 2.9 million American students were victims of ransomware attacks in 2023. They also said that if social media companies collect data from users, they would become a prime target for cybercriminals.

New York, New Mexico and Vermont are among the states taking Snapchat to court, alleging the company failed to protect kids. Some lawsuits were filed by parents who claim their kids were negatively impacted by the app’s features. 

Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

The lawsuit against Snapchat highlights critical issues regarding child safety online and the responsibility of social media platforms to protect vulnerable users.

Child protection

This lawsuit underscores the importance of safeguarding children from harmful online content and features designed to increase engagement at their expense.

Corporate responsibility

It raises questions about the ethical obligations of social media companies to adhere to laws intended to protect minors from addictive and potentially dangerous content.

Digital addiction

The legal action addresses growing concerns about how social media platforms exploit design features that encourage compulsive use, especially among young users, impacting their mental health.

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Common ground

Across the articles, a shared concern is the impact of Snapchat's design features, such as infinite scrolling and push notifications, which are argued to create addictive behaviors in users, particularly minors. There is also a consensus regarding the dangers posed to children, with all sources emphasizing the need for better regulation and accountability from social media platforms.

Community reaction

Local communities, particularly parents and child advocacy groups, have expressed strong support for the lawsuit, emphasizing the need for safer social media environments for children. Many parents welcome the Attorney General's actions, seeing them as a vital step in protecting their children from online dangers.

Policy impact

If the lawsuit against Snapchat is successful, it could lead to stricter regulations on social media platforms regarding child access and content. This would impact how tech companies design their services, potentially increasing compliance costs and altering user engagement strategies to meet legal standards.

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left frame Florida's lawsuit as "targeting" Snapchat, emphasizing potential government overreach and Snapchat's "addictive" features that "prey on minor users."
  • Not enough coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right highlight Snapchat "empowering child predators" by "knowingly and openly" defying child safety laws.

Media landscape

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23 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • Florida sued Snap, the company behind Snapchat, for allegedly addicting children and allowing underage accounts, violating a 2024 law intended to protect children.
  • Attorney General James Uthmeier stated Snap's features like push notifications promote compulsive usage and deceive parents about the risks of Snapchat for their teens.
  • The lawsuit seeks penalties up to $50,000 for each violation, stating Snap failed to comply with the law on age restrictions for social media accounts.
  • Snap argues that Florida's law infringes on First Amendment rights and that there are better solutions for online safety and age verification than the law itself.

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Key points from the Center

  • Florida filed a lawsuit against Snap for allegedly violating laws designed to protect children online in Santa Rosa County Circuit Court.
  • The lawsuit claims Snap contracts with Florida users under 16 without parental consent, violating HB 3 according to the state's federal-court filing.
  • Uthmeier stated that Snap is deceiving Florida parents about the dangers children face on the app, highlighting concerns over addictive features and exposure to harmful interactions.
  • The lawsuit seeks to stop Snap's alleged violations and impose penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation, as outlined in the legal documents.

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Key points from the Right

  • Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against Snapchat for allegedly violating a 2024 state law regarding minors' access to social media and for deceptive business practices under Florida law.
  • The complaint claims that Snapchat allows children under 14 to create accounts without parental consent and fails to verify consent for older minors, contradicting the company's earlier admissions in other cases.
  • Uthmeier accused Snapchat of misrepresenting the safety of its app, stating it exposes minors to explicit content and has facilitated contact with adult predators.
  • The lawsuit demands civil penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation of the law and criticizes Snapchat for features that promote addictive behaviors, contributing to increased mental health issues among children.

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