Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., alleging the Snapchat operator violates a 2024 state law restricting children’s access to social media platforms.

According to CBS News, the lawsuit, filed on Monday, April 21, in the Santa Rosa County Circuit Court, follows a federal judge’s March decision rejecting the tech industry groups’ request for an injunction against the law.

Law Targets Platforms with “Addictive Features”

Florida’s HB 3, enacted in March 2024, prohibits children under 14 from opening social media accounts and requires parental consent for those aged 14 and 15. The legislation specifically targets platforms with “addictive features” and algorithms that may harm young users.

“Despite being subject to HB 3, Snap contracts with and provides accounts to Florida users who it knows are younger than 14,” the lawsuit states. It also alleges Snapchat “fails to seek parental consent before contracting with and providing accounts to Florida users who it knows are 14 or 15 years old.”

Each violation constitutes an unfair and deceptive trade practice under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, according to the filing.

Allegations Against Snapchat

The lawsuit specifically identifies features it considers addictive and harmful to young users, including:

• Push notifications that appear when users aren’t actively using the platform
• Content that disappears after a certain time period, which the lawsuit claims “encourages users to open the app and keep coming back to it constantly”

The state seeks an order to halt Snapchat’s alleged violations and penalties up to $50,000 per violation.

Broader Enforcement Expected

In a federal court filing Monday, state attorneys indicated Uthmeier “expects that additional investigations and enforcement actions will commence soon” against other platforms.

The tech industry groups NetChoice and Computer & Communications Industry Association, which represent platforms including Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, have challenged the law on First Amendment grounds. They filed a revised challenge on March 28, seeking a preliminary injunction once again.

Snapchat’s Safety Initiatives

The lawsuit comes months after Snapchat highlighted its safety measures at its annual Law Enforcement Summit in December 2024. The company has expanded its Safety Operations division, implemented enhanced blocking tools, and created warning systems designed to restrict stranger interactions with teens.

Snapchat also launched educator resources and tools in August 2024 to support digital well-being for its reported 20+ million U.S. teen users.

Florida’s enforcement action is part of a national trend addressing youth social media usage, with multiple states attempting similar regulations. Federal judges have previously halted less-restrictive age verification laws in states such as Ohio, Arkansas, and California, finding that they violated free speech protections.