Pennsylvania’s attorney general is suing the operator of Snapchat over claims that the app uses addictive designs while misrepresenting its content suitability to parents.
The complaint filed in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas alleges violations of the state’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law through misleading app-store claims and platform features that encourage compulsive use.
The filing states that Snapchat misrepresents how often adult-themed material such as drug use, suicidal ideation, and sexual content appears, allowing it to obtain a 13+ rating that parents rely on.
Says Attorney General Dave Sunday,
“Snapchat has designed its platform to lure children into constant, compulsive use that is detrimental to healthy adolescent development. This lawsuit demands that Snapchat finally admit publicly that its platform is highly addictive and that it takes real action to keep kids safe.”
The complaint highlights features including daily SnapStreaks shown with a flame icon, ephemeral messages, infinite scroll, push notifications, autoplay, and Snapscores that reward frequent engagement.
Snapchat responded that the allegations misrepresent the platform, which opens to a camera to encourage authentic connections, and pointed to its existing safety tools.
Says a Snapchat spokesperson in a statement,
“We share the Attorney General’s commitment to protecting young people online and are disappointed they have chosen litigation rather than working with us toward that shared goal. We remain focused on strengthening and enhancing the safeguards, tools, and educational resources that support the safety, privacy, and well-being of all Snapchatter.”
The case follows a similar suit against TikTok filed two weeks earlier.
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