Snap Inc. (Snapchat)
Snapchat Addictive Design Claims: Youth Users May Recover Damages
Parents of kids under 18, and adults who used Snapchat as minors, may be able to pursue compensatory damages over claims the app was designed to be addictive and harmful.
Key facts
- Claim deadline
- No deadline listed
- Potential payment
- Payment varies
- Proof listed
- May be required
- Status
- Open
Plain-language overview
Who may qualify?
Eligibility depends on the dates, products, locations, and other terms listed for this claim. Review any criteria below and the official terms before deciding whether it may apply to you.
- You must have used Snapchat within the past ten years before turning 18, or your child under the age of 18 must have used Snapchat within the past ten years.
- Your or your child’s mental or physical health must have been negatively impacted as a result of using Snapchat.
- You must be able to provide information about how using Snapchat negatively impacted your or your child’s health, including medical history, diagnoses, and treatment sought or received.
Case overview
What this settlement is about
Snap Inc. is facing active, private arbitration claims rather than a courtroom lawsuit. The claims allege the company deliberately engineered Snapchat to be addictive, especially for users under 18, and failed to warn people about risks including addiction, depression, anxiety, insomnia, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and interference with education. The claims also allege the platform's design exposed young users to cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and sexual harassment. Beyond the addictive design allegations, the case asserts Snap Inc. used deceptive business practices to hide these addictive features and shirked its duty to build a safe product. This matter is currently accepting new clients, and any claims would proceed through private arbitration rather than in court.
