Social media platforms face pressure to stop online drug dealers who target kid – NPR

Critics say Snap, the maker of Snapchat, needs to do more to stop on-line drug dealers. The company told NPR it’s improving safety measures and working with law enforcement. Richard Drew/AP hide caption toggle caption Richard Drew/AP Critics say Snap, the maker of Snapchat, needs to do more to stop on-line drug dealers. The company told NPR it’s improving safety measures and working with law enforcement. Richard Drew/AP Three years ago Amy Neville went to her son Alex’s bedroom and found the 14-year-old lying dead on a bean bag chair. He had overdosed — Neville describes it as a “poisoning” — on fentanyl. “An amazing child who could do anything he set his mind to was gone,” Neville testified Wednesday before a House panel in Washington, D.C. According to Neville, her son began experimenting with illicit opioids and other drugs while using the social media site Snapchat. “It was on Snapchat that Alex was able to visit with dealers and other users. It was on Snapchat that he set up a deal to get pills,” she said. The dealer who sold fentanyl to Alex was never caught or prosecuted. Snapchat hasn’t acknowledged any role in his death. During testimony Wednesday
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