Lawsuit in Florida Alleges Snapchat Violated Child Protection Regulations
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc, the parent company of Snapchat, alleging that the social media platform is in violation of the state's 2024 social media law. According to the lawsuit, filed in a Santa Rosa County circuit court on April 21, 2025, Snapchat knowingly allows minors under 14 to create accounts, thereby bypassing the law's safeguards and engaging in unfair and deceptive practices.
The Florida law, also known as HB-3, requires that parental consent be obtained for children under 16 to open social media accounts, with those between 14 and 15 requiring parental permission as well. The lawsuit contends that Snapchat's use of "push notifications" and its vanishing content feature contribute to the app's harm to young users.
The legal action marks the first enforcement action under Florida's social media law, which was upheld by a federal court in March 2025. The lawsuit is part of a broader state effort to enforce child protection measures and to hold social media platforms responsible for the potentially addictive features and explicit content they offer.
Last month, a federal judge rejected a request by large tech companies for an injunction against the law, deeming that the groups had not established they had standing to sue. The lawsuit's ongoing status as of late May 2025 has yet to be finalized. The Florida Attorney General's office continues to pursue its claims against Snapchat in court.
In response, social media and technology companies have maintained their challenge to the law's legality. In March, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker ruled against a request for a preliminary injunction, arguing that restricting minors' access to social media altogether is not a narrowly tailored means of advancing any legitimate state interest. The defendant's attorneys argue that the law is a violation of the First Amendment, which values free speech, particularly in a nation that prizes individual liberty.
- The Florida Attorney General's office is pursuing a lawsuit against Snap Inc, alleging that Snapchat's practices are in violation of the state's 2024 social media law, specifically due to allowing minors under 14 to create accounts.
- The lawsuit, part of a broader state effort, contends that Snapchat's use of "push notifications" and its vanishing content feature contribute to harm for younger users.
- The ongoing legal action is significant as it marks the first enforcement action under Florida's social media law, which has been upheld by a federal court, and is a part of efforts to enforce child protection measures and hold social media platforms accountable for their potentially addictive features and explicit content.
- Social media and technology companies, including Snap Inc, have challenged the law's legality, arguing that it is a violation of the First Amendment, which values free speech, particularly in a nation that prizes individual liberty.
