Pennsylvanians worried about teens spending too much time on social media now have support from the state. Attorney General Dave Sunday sued Snapchat in Philadelphia County Court. Officials allege the app deliberately keeps young users compulsively engaged while its content ratings mislead parents about what minors see.
While Pennsylvania does offer a wide range of programs for any type of addictions, the lawsuit is a wakeup call. More parents in The Keystone State are already recognizing behavioral addiction problems around social media in their own homes.
The Lawsuit Details
The complaint centers on several of Snapchat’s core features. One is Snapstreaks, which track consecutive days of messaging between users and can be paid to restore if they expire. Others are infinite scrolling, push notifications, autoplay and disappearing messages. Pennsylvania alleges these features keep youngsters hooked on the app to generate advertising revenue. Younger users feel social pressure to maintain streaks as a form of bragging rights.
The state also alleges the app’s ratings are inaccurate. Snapchat has a 13+ rating on Apple’s App Store and a T for Teen rating elsewhere. In fact, an investigator registered an account with a 13-year-old’s birthday and easily found content containing profanity, drug and alcohol references and sexual material.
The state wants the court to declare the practices unlawful under Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. The suit follows a similar case filed against TikTok earlier the same month.
For its part, Snap disputed all allegations. Officials for the company say the claims misrepresent their platform and that it remains focused on safety for all users.
Behavioral Addiction
Social media addiction isn’t a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR, but patterns match familiar characteristics of behavioral addiction. Kids lose control over time spent, show irritability when access is yanked, keep logging in despite harm to schoolwork and lying about how much time they spend online.
In teens, watch for slipping grades, sleep disruption, anxiety tied to streaks or responses, and withdrawal from in-person activities. Social media can also lead to online gambling, and the state has noted an uptick in referrals for care.
Next Steps
Screen compulsions can affect any child’s daily functioning. When that happens, a professional evaluation can distinguish heavy use from signs of deeper behavioral health issues, especially when anxiety or depression are also present.
Addiction treatment options for teens increasingly include specialized programs for process addictions alongside mental health care.
Our browsable, comprehensive directory features verified addiction treatment centers in Pennsylvania with experience in adolescent behavioral health.
You can also compare local programs with an expert by calling
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