Florida attorney general sues Snapchat for allegedly ‘exploiting’ minor users

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit accusing Snapchat’s operator of illegally marketing addictive design features to minors.  Under a 2024 Florida law, HB 3, social media platforms that use “addictive features” are prohibited from providing accounts to children 13 or younger and must restrict access to 14 and 15-year-olds. Snapchat utilizes several of these “addictive” features that “exploit” minors, Uthmeier alleged, including infinite scrolling, push notifications, certain personal interactive metrics such as SnapStreaks, and auto-play videos. Uthmeier argued that Snap, Inc. had violated the law by “market[ing] Snapchat in Florida as safe for users as young as 13.”  “Despite being subject to HB 3, Snap contracts with and provides accounts to Florida users who it knows are younger than 14,” read the lawsuit filed Monday in Santa Rosa County circuit court. “It also fails to seek parental consent before contracting with and providing accounts to Florida users who it knows are 14 or 15 years old. Snap is openly and knowingly violating HB 3, and each violation constitutes an unfair and deceptive trade practice under FDUTPA [a state law known as the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act].” In a statement on Tuesday, Uthmeier accused Snapchat of “deceiving Florida
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