Snapchat faces trial in lawsuit over alleged role in teen drug overdoses

A California judge has cleared the way for a trial against Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, over a lawsuit filed by the families of over 60 young people who died from fentanyl overdoses. The lawsuit accuses Snapchat of negligence and wrongful death, claiming that its disappearing message feature facilitates illegal drug sales to teens.

This marks the first instance of a social media company facing such allegations, with the judge allowing specific claims to proceed despite the usual legal protections under Section 230. Snap stated that it maintains its commitment to preventing drug abuse on its platform and vows to defend against what it calls legally and factually flawed allegations.

Why does it matter?

The implications of this lawsuit could have significant consequences for social media platforms, sparking increased demands for relevant legislation. Among the advocates for change, Sammy’s parents, Samuel Chapman, and Laura Berman, who lost their son to a fentanyl overdose at 16 in 2021, actively contributed to a proposed bill in August 2022. The bill empowers parents to monitor their children’s online activities through third-party software. However, these efforts have faced opposition from privacy advocates concerned about potential invasive surveillance measures.