Pennsylvania Sues Snapchat Parent Company Over Alleged Youth Addiction and Inadequate Content Safeguards

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday filed suit against Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, on Tuesday, accusing the social media platform of deliberately designing features that foster compulsive engagement among young users while misleading parents about the app’s safety measures and age-appropriate content controls.

The lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia County Court, specifically targets features such as Snapstreaks, infinite scrolling, push notifications, autoplay functionality, and disappearing messages. Pennsylvania contends that these design elements encourage minors to spend excessive time on the platform, thereby boosting the company’s advertising revenue while exposing young users to potential harm.

According to the complaint, Snapchat maintains millions of users in Pennsylvania, including tens of thousands under the age of 16, while generating millions of dollars in annual revenue from users within the state. The complaint further notes that Snap’s North American operations produced more than $5.3 billion in revenue in 2024.

The legal action also addresses how Snapchat monetizes user engagement. For instance, users can pay to restore an expired Snapstreak, a feature that tracks consecutive days of communication between two users. Pennsylvania argues that younger users often feel compelled to maintain these streaks, associating them with the strength of their real-world friendships.

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Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday sued Snapchat parent Snap Inc. over allegations involving the platform’s design and safety for younger users. (istock / iStock)

“Snapchat has designed its platform to lure children into constant, compulsive use that is detrimental to healthy adolescent development,” Sunday said in a statement. “This lawsuit demands that Snapchat finally admit publicly that its platform is highly addictive and that it takes real action to keep kids safe.”

Pennsylvania additionally accuses Snap of misleading consumers about the content accessible to minors. The complaint notes that information provided by Snap results in Snapchat receiving a 13+ rating in Apple’s App Store and a “T for Teen” rating in the Google Play and Microsoft stores. The state argues that these ratings fail to accurately reflect the mature content available through the platform.

The complaint details an investigation in which a representative from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office created a Snapchat account using a 13-year-old’s birthday. According to the filing, the account was able to access content containing profanity, references to drugs and alcohol, and sexual material.

Snap has disputed the allegations, providing a statement to FOX Business.

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Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday sued Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, on Tuesday. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, File / Getty Images)

“The allegations against Snap fundamentally misrepresent our platform and our approach to teen safety,” the company stated. “Snapchat was designed differently from the beginning: it opens to a camera, not a feed of content, and was built to encourage self-expression and authentic connection with friends.”

A representative for the company added: “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 Snapchatters.”

Pennsylvania is seeking a court declaration that Snap’s practices violate the state’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, along with civil penalties and injunctions designed to prevent future violations.

The lawsuit follows a similar consumer protection case that Attorney General Sunday filed against TikTok earlier this month, also alleging addictive features and misleading content safety ratings.

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