European Regulators Launch Investigation Into Snapchat Over Child Safety Failures

The European Union has opened a formal investigation into Snapchat, alleging the social media platform fails to adequately protect children from predators and harmful content. Regulators also accused four major adult websites of not preventing minors from accessing their platforms.

European Union officials announced Thursday they are launching a formal probe into Snapchat amid allegations that the social media platform inadequately safeguards young users from dangerous situations including potential predators and criminal recruitment.

The European Commission initiated the investigation under the Digital Services Act, comprehensive legislation designed to shield internet users across the 27-member bloc.

According to EU regulators, while Snapchat mandates users be at least 13 years old, the company’s age verification methods appear inadequate for preventing younger children from accessing the platform. Officials also expressed concern that the system fails to properly identify users under 17, which is necessary to provide them with appropriate content experiences.

The commission believes Snapchat’s current safeguards are insufficient to shield minors from contact with dangerous individuals who may seek to exploit them sexually or recruit them for illegal activities. Additionally, the platform allegedly allows underage users to encounter information about prohibited substances including drugs, vaping products, and alcohol.

“Snapchat appears to have overlooked” the DSA’s “high safety standards for all users,” stated Henna Virkkunen, the commission’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy. She added that the investigation will examine Snapchat’s adherence to EU regulations.

In response, Snapchat issued a statement saying the company has “fully cooperated” with the Commission by “engaging proactively, transparently and working in good faith to meet the DSA’s high safety standards – and we will continue to do so throughout this investigation.” The platform emphasized that user safety represents a “top priority” and noted its design includes “privacy and safety built in from the start, including additional protection for teens.”

This investigation intensifies mounting pressure on social media companies regarding youth welfare on both sides of the Atlantic. Just Wednesday, a California jury awarded millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman after determining that Meta and YouTube created their platforms to addict young users without considering their wellbeing.

One day prior, a New Mexico jury imposed a $375 million penalty on Meta for knowingly damaging children’s mental health while hiding information about child sexual exploitation occurring on its platforms.

The EU previously accused TikTok of violating the DSA through “addictive design” elements that promote compulsive usage among children, and has been examining Facebook and Instagram since 2024 for child protection deficiencies.

On the same day, Brussels also charged four major adult websites – Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos – with failing to prevent children from accessing explicit content, following an investigation that began last year.

The Digital Services Act mandates that internet companies and online platforms strengthen protections for European users against harmful content and suspicious products, with potential penalties reaching 6% of annual revenue.

The adult websites did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In initial findings, regulators determined the site operators failed to “diligently identify and assess” risks to children and did not implement effective barriers to prevent minors from using their services.

“Children are accessing adult content at increasingly younger ages and these platforms must put in place robust, privacy-preserving and effective measures to keep minors off their services,” Virkkunen explained.

The adult websites now have an opportunity to address the allegations before the commission renders its final ruling.