What happened
01
My AI was added to Snapchat for all users in 2023.
02
The FTC announced the referral on 16 January 2025.
03
It said the chatbot poses risks and harms to young users.
04
Details of the complaint were not made public.
Why this is a design failure
Putting a chatbot in a teen messaging app reaches young people where they confide most.
The fair alternative
Default to strict safety settings for teens and point them to real help.
Do
Refer young users to trusted adults and helplines on risky topics.
Don’t
Don’t place a general chatbot in a teen app without age-based safeguards.
Company response
Snap said the complaint is based on inaccuracies and lacks concrete evidence.