UTAH TAKES ON SNAPCHAT OVER CHILD SAFETY

Utah has filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, accusing the social media platform of crafting features that addict children and expose them to dangers like drug sales and sexual exploitation.

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A LAWSUIT TARGETS ADDICTIVE DESIGN

Led by Governor Spencer Cox and Attorney General Derek Brown, the 90-page complaint, lodged in Salt Lake County’s 3rd District Court, claims Snapchat violates the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act and Utah Consumer Privacy Act. The state alleges that the app’s design, including vanishing messages and AI chatbots, hooks young users while failing to protect them from predators.

The lawsuit marks Utah’s fourth legal action against major social media companies, following suits against Meta and TikTok for similar issues. It points to features like Snapstreaks, push notifications, and beauty filters, arguing they exploit children’s psychological vulnerabilities to keep them glued to the app. The state seeks an injunction to stop these practices, civil penalties exceeding $300,000, and compliance with Utah’s data privacy laws, emphasizing that kids’ wellbeing must trump corporate profits.

Snap fired back, arguing the lawsuit circumvents a federal court’s ruling that blocked Utah’s age verification law for violating free speech. The company insists Snapchat prioritizes safety, with private accounts by default and parental controls via its Family Center. Yet, Utah’s claims, backed by undercover tests showing harmful content, paint a darker picture, raising questions about whether the app’s design puts children at risk.

FEATURES THAT HOOK KIDS