Snap controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Pennsylvania sues Snapchat over alleged failure to protect young users
Lawsuit filed
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a lawsuit against Snapchat's parent company Snap Inc. The suit alleges the platform misrepresents how often users encounter adult content in order to maintain its 13-plus age rating. It also claims that features such as disappearing messages and streaks encourage compulsive use by minors.
Stated objective. This lawsuit demands that Snapchat finally admit publicly that its platform is highly addictive and that it takes real action to keep kids safe.
Company response
Denial — Snap
“The allegations against Snap fundamentally misrepresent our platform and our approach to teen safety,” a spokesperson said.
Denial — Snap, Inc.
"The allegations against Snap fundamentally misrepresent our platform and our approach to teen safety," the statement read.
Source excerpt
Sunday also alleges the app’s disappearing messages feature encourages compulsive use and the sending of photos and videos that users would regret if they did not “disappear,” including revealing or even sexual photos.
In the complaint, Sunday alleges Snapchat misrepresents how often users encounter adult content — including sexual material and drug use — in an effort to maintain its 13-plus age rating in App Stores.
The lawsuit also alleges that Snapchat lies about how often adult material, such as sexual content, suicidal ideation and drug use, appears on its platform.
2026
Montgomery County sues Meta, Snap, TikTok and Google over youth mental health
Lawsuit filed
Montgomery County officials filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Meta, Snap, TikTok, Google and other companies. The suit claims that the companies' social media products negatively impact children's mental health and well-being. Snap is named among the defendants in the filing.
Stated objective. To hold social media companies accountable for the role their products play in harming young people.
Source excerpt
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Officials in Montgomery County have filed a lawsuit against social media companies -- including Meta, Snap, TikTok and Google -- claiming their products have a negative impact on children's mental health and well-being.
2026
Snap settles social media addiction lawsuit
Settlement
Snap reached a settlement resolving claims in a social media addiction lawsuit before trial. The teenage plaintiffs had alleged that Snapchat was designed to be addictive and that using it from a young age contributed to their mental health issues. The settlement terms were undisclosed.
Source excerpt
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, reached a settlement in a social media addiction lawsuit on Monday, resolving claims before the case was set to go to trial this month, according to lawyers for the plaintiffs.
Terms of the Snap settlement were undisclosed
The teenage plaintiffs, identified in court documents as S.J. and K.D.B., had alleged in the suit that Snapchat was designed to be addictive and that using the platform from a young age contributed to their mental health issues.
2026
Snap settles teen platform-harm lawsuit
Settlement
Snap reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by two teenagers who alleged that the company designed its platform to be addictive and that it contributed to their depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. The source reports a settlement, not a determination of the allegations.
Source excerpt
Snap has reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by two teenagers who accused the company of designing its platform to be addictive and contributing to their depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, as first reported by Reuters.
Snapchat parent Snap Inc, has reached a settlement during a trial over claims brought by two teenagers who say the company designed the platform to be addictive, causing their depression, anxiety and eating disorders, attorneys for the plaintiffs said on Monday.
Snap has settled a lawsuit brought by two teens who alleged their use of the app led to self harm and other mental health issues.
2022
Connecticut mother files lawsuit against Meta and Snap over alleged social-media harms
Lawsuit filed
Tammy Rodriguez filed a lawsuit against Meta and Snap in San Francisco federal court, alleging that their social-media platforms contributed to her 11-year-old daughter's suicide and that her use of Instagram and Snapchat was tied to several mental-health harms. These are allegations in the complaint, not stated court findings.
Company response
Clarification — Snap
In a statement, Snap said it couldn't comment on the specifics of an active case but told Insider "nothing is more important to us than the wellbeing of our community."
Source excerpt
In a statement, Snap said it couldn't comment on the specifics of an active case but told Insider "nothing is more important to us than the wellbeing of our community."
The complaint, filed by Tammy Rodriguez in San Francisco federal court earlier this week, claims Selena Rodriguez suffered from depression, sleep deprivation, eating disorders, and self-harm tied to her use of Instagram and Snapchat.
A Connecticut mother is suing Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, and Snap, alleging their "dangerous and defective social media products" played a role in her 11-year-old daughter's suicide.
2021
Snap permanently terminates Donald Trump's Snapchat account
Company response
In January 2021, Snap announced that it had permanently terminated Donald Trump's Snapchat account. The company cited public safety as the reason for the decision. According to Snap, the account was used in attempts to spread misinformation and hate speech, and to incite violence. The company stated that this conduct violated its guidelines. The announcement identified the account holder by name and described the termination as permanent. Snap's statement did not specify further details beyond these reasons and the platform's guidelines.
Snap said it permanently terminated Donald Trump's Snapchat account, citing public safety and his attempts to spread misinformation, hate speech, and incite violence, which it said violated its guidelines.
Stated objective. In the interest of public safety.
Source excerpt
In the interest of public safety, and based on his attempts to spread misinformation, hate speech, and incite violence, which are clear violations of our guidelines, we have made the decision to permanently terminate his account.
Jan. 13, 2021 7:46 pm EST
Today, the company announced that shutdown is permanent, in the following statement.
2021
Snapchat announces tools to address illicit drug sales
Company response
Snapchat announced new features and educational resources intended to help prevent younger users from purchasing illicit drugs on the platform, amid reports that teens had bought fentanyl-laced pills through Snapchat.
Stated objective. Keep young users safe from the impacts of counterfeit pills like fentanyl.
Company response
Remediation — Snapchat
Snapchat is reportedly rolling out new features and educational resources that can help prevent its younger users from purchasing illicit drugs on the platform.
Source excerpt
According to NBC News, the teens were able to purchase pills on the platform, yet they turned out to be laced with fentanyl.
The company stated on Oct. 7 that the goal of the new tools is to keep its young users safe from the impacts of counterfeit pills like fentanyl.
Snapchat is reportedly rolling out new features and educational resources that can help prevent its younger users from purchasing illicit drugs on the platform.
2021
Appeals court allows lawsuit against Snap to proceed
Ruling
A federal appeals court ruled that the parents of three young men killed in a car crash may sue Snap over allegations that Snapchat's speed filter enticed young people to drive at high speeds. The ruling addressed whether Section 230 immunity applied; it did not determine Snap's liability.
Source excerpt
And, in a surprise decision on Tuesday, a federal appeals court ordered that the parents should have the right to sue Snap Inc.
But the appeals court's reversal paves a way around the all-powerful law, saying it doesn't apply because this case is not about what someone posted to Snapchat, but rather the design of the app itself.
The parents allege that Snapchat's speed filter entices young people to drive at astounding speeds.
2020
Snap withdraws Juneteenth filter and apologizes
Company response
Snap withdrew a Snapchat Juneteenth Lens after it drew criticism. The Lens prompted users to smile in order to break chains. Following the criticism, Snap pulled the Lens, apologized, and said it was investigating why an unapproved version went live.
After criticism of a Snapchat Juneteenth Lens that prompted users to smile to break chains, Snap pulled the Lens, apologized, and said it was investigating why an unapproved version went live.
Company response
Apology — Snap
the company has since issued a public apology
Investigation — Snap
We are investigating why this mistake occurred so that we can avoid it in the future.
Source excerpt
We are investigating why this mistake occurred so that we can avoid it in the future.
By mid-day, Snap quietly pulled the tone-deaf filter and the company has since issued a public apology.
Snapchat received widespread criticism Friday for its Juneteenth filter that prompted users to celebrate the anniversary of the end of slavery in the U.S. by smiling to break chains.
2018
Backlash over Snapchat redesign
Users strongly criticized a major redesign that changed the organization and navigation of Snapchat. A petition seeking reversal attracted approximately 1.2 million signatures, while Snap maintained the redesign with limited concessions.
2014
Federal Trade Commission privacy case
The FTC alleged that Snapchat’s disclosures overstated the disappearance of messages and did not adequately explain certain address-book and location-data practices. The settlement required an independent privacy-monitoring program lasting 20 years.
2014
Reggie Brown origin dispute
Reggie Brown sued Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, asserting that he had contributed substantially to the original concept, branding, and launch of Snapchat. Snap disputed his claims, but the parties settled in 2014. A later SEC filing disclosed a settlement value of $157.5 million and credited Brown with the conceptual idea for Snapchat.
2013
Snapchat user-data breach
A security incident exposed approximately 4.6 million usernames and telephone numbers. The event raised concerns about the security of Snapchat’s user database.