Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has initiated legal action against Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, alleging violations of a 2024 state law designed to protect minors from addictive social media practices. The lawsuit, filed in Santa Rosa County Circuit Court, contends that Snapchat’s features—such as infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, push notifications, and disappearing messages—are intentionally designed to captivate young users, thereby compromising their mental health.
Under the stipulations of House Bill 3 (HB 3), children under 14 are prohibited from creating social media accounts, while those aged 14 and 15 require parental consent. The complaint asserts that Snapchat has failed to enforce these age restrictions, allowing underage users to access the platform without appropriate verification or parental approval. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that Snapchat exposes minors to harmful content, including pornography and drug-related material, and facilitates interactions with adult strangers through features like “Find Friends.”
Snap Inc. has defended its practices, arguing that HB 3 infringes upon the First Amendment rights of both adults and minors. The company advocates for alternative approaches to online safety and age verification, suggesting solutions at the operating system, app store, or device level. This legal dispute unfolds amid broader challenges to HB 3’s constitutionality, with industry groups like NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association contesting the law in federal court.
The lawsuit seeks penalties of up to $50,000 per violation and a court order to compel Snap Inc. to comply with the state’s regulations. Attorney General Uthmeier has indicated that additional enforcement actions against other social media platforms may follow.
