Snapchat is reportedly facing a lawsuit over the claims that Snapchat Discovers serves sexually explicit content to minors without providing warning to parents.
According to The Verge, a 14-year-old boy’s mother sued Snapchat for failing to enforce the age restriction policy on the messaging platform.
The lawsuit claims that Snapchat Discover channel routinely showcase sexually explicit content without providing proper warning to parents, in violation of the Communication Decency Act.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status and was filed in US district court in California.
‘Millions of parents in the United States today are unaware that Snapchat is curating and publishing this profoundly sexual and offensive content to their children,’ the lawsuit says.
‘By engaging in such conduct directed at minors, and making it simple and easy for users to 'snap' each other content from Snapchat Discover, Snapchat is reinforcing the use of its service to facilitate problematic communications, such as 'sexting,' between minors. Snapchat has placed profit from monetizing Snapchat Discover over the safety of children.’
The messaging app is rated in the App Store as being appropriate for children ages 12 and older. The App Store also says that it contains infrequent or mild sexual content, and nudity, alcohol, tobacco, or drug, nudity, profanity, crude humour, and mature or suggestive themes.
In an email to The Verge, a Snapchat’s spokesperson said, ‘We haven't been served with a complaint in this lawsuit, but we are sorry if people were offended.’
‘Our Discover partners have editorial independence, which is something that we support,’ he added.
