Snapchat has received praise for its ability to capture the moment and also criticism for disappearing messages that are a part of the process. Now, the social media app is in hot water for facilitating a teenager’s death.

TMZ reports that the company is getting sued by the parents of a teenager whose life ended after a fentanyl-laced pill they say he got from a dealer he found on Snapchat. The company has its claims on the subject.

The trafficking of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl is an urgent national crisis. We are devastated that these counterfeit drugs have taken the lives of so many people, and our hearts go out to families who have suffered unimaginable losses. We are committed to bringing every resource to bear to help fight this national crisis, both on Snapchat and across the tech industry overall.

The parents are not the only ones, as multiple people are suing the app for its flaws. The parents have confirmed that there’s no process in place to take an action when the situation arises.

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Parents have accused the app of having no reporting mechanism, staffed email address, or even a phone number for users to report underage, dangerous, or violating the use of its social media product.

Amy’s now the VP of Void – a nonprofit that fights against the spread of illegal drugs like fentanyl – and her org recently claimed social media companies across the board aren’t doing enough to cut off the connection between kids and dealers.

What do you think of this tragic story? Sound off in the comments.

Amit Shukla

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