West Virginia lawsuit alleges Snapchat failed to protect children from sexual exploitation

by BOB AARON Thu, November 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM A new lawsuit claims Snapchat failed to protect West Virginia youth from online predators. (WCHS) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — West Virginia is suing Snap, the company behind Snapchat, alleging it misled families about child safety and failed to protect young users from sexual exploitation. The lawsuit came just one day before the first anniversary of Bryce Tate’s death. The teenager was the target of sextortion via Snapchat. “They have deceived West Virginia parents and children about the safety of Snapchat while exposing kids to sexual exploitation,” West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey said. The lawsuit said Bryce was 15 when a predator posing as a teenage girl contacted him on Snapchat last November. After he sent intimate photos, the person demanded $500 and threatened to share them. Adam Tate, Bryce’s father, said the predator sent about 120 messages in 20 minutes. Bryce died by suicide that night. The state also cites the 2018 death of 12-year-old Cimarron Thomas, who was contacted on Snapchat by an online predator. Tate joined McCuskey to announce the Shield Initiative, a three-pronged education and prevention program to help students recognize and respond to sextortion and
Read More