Utah sues Snap in latest youth social media battle
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Utah filed a lawsuit against Snapchat Monday, alleging the social media app harms children and teens. Photo: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Utah sued Snapchat's parent company Monday, alleging the app intentionally designs features to "hook" children to the platform and endanger youth.
Why it matters: The complaint targeting Snap Inc. is the state's fourth lawsuit against a major social media company in recent years, all of them alleging harm to children and teens.
- Utah has two lawsuits ongoing against TikTok, as well as one against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
State of play: State officials said the app makes young people vulnerable to extortion, drug dealers and sexual predators, according to the 90-page lawsuit filed in the Third Judicial District Court.
- "Snap is aware that its features, which drive engagement, also facilitate child pornography, predatory behavior, and access to dangerous drugs like fentanyl," the lawsuit stated.
- State officials also allege the app violates the Utah Consumer Privacy Act for not adequately disclosing the data it collects and preventing users from opting out of sharing sensitive details, including biometric or geolocation information.
What they're saying: "This lawsuit against Snap is about accountability and about drawing a clear line: The well-being of our children must come before corporate profits," said Gov. Spencer Cox in a statement. "We won't sit back while tech companies exploit young users."
Catch up quick: Last September, a federal judge temporarily blocked a Utah law requiring age verification and parental consent, to limit minors' social media use.
- The ruling was a response to a complaint by NetChoice, a trade group representing Facebook, TikTok and X, that alleged the law violated free speech rights.
The other side: In response to the lawsuit, a company spokesperson for Snap said the app prioritizes the safety of users.
- "Now, unable to accept the court's rejection of the state's legislation, the Utah Attorney General is resorting to civil litigation as a means to circumvent the court and impose age verification requirements and age-related restrictions in ways that are unconstitutional," the spokesperson said in a statement.
- Snapchat released safeguards in 2023 to protect teens against unwanted interactions, ABC News reported.
The bottom line: Utah's latest action against Snap is an example of a growing bipartisan consensus among states that social media has risks for young people.