Lawsuit Filed Against Snapchat Parent Over Rape of 12-Year-Old Girl

Parents of a Missouri girl who was raped at age 12 by an adult she met on Snapchat have filed suit against the app's parent company and the attacker in state court. The complaint, filed Wednesday, states the girl began using the app in 2021 at age 11 without her parents' knowledge.

It says the platform recommended the adult defendant as a friend to the girl and other nearby teens, provided her home address through its Snap Maps feature, and allowed repeated unsolicited explicit images.

Allegations in the Complaint The lawsuit claims the company knew the defendant maintained multiple accounts despite its policies against such use. It further alleges the platform did not warn users or parents that connecting with strangers could be dangerous.

The girl has been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression, according to the filing. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages and ask the court to order changes to features that the suit says facilitate contact between minors and adults.

A company statement said its teams have worked for years on safeguards, safety tutorials and partnerships with law enforcement. The same statement did not address the specific allegations in the new complaint. The suit is the latest in a series of legal actions against the company.

New Mexico filed a similar case in 2024 alleging the platform's design features foster sextortion and unwanted adult contact with minors. A judge denied the company's motion to dismiss that case last year. Additional individual suits remain pending in other states.