Snap Inc. is facing a new lawsuit alleging that design features on its Snapchat platform enabled an adult predator to contact, groom, and sexually assault a 12-year-old girl in Missouri, intensifying scrutiny over child safety measures on social media platforms.
The lawsuit, filed by the girl's parents, alleges that Snapchat's "Quick Add" and "Snap Map" features helped a 25-year-old man, Gabriel Joel Valentin-Rios, establish contact with the child after allegedly posing as a 17-year-old boy.
The plaintiffs argue that Snap failed to implement adequate safeguards to protect children from online predators and ignored warning signs regarding exploitation on its platform.
The complaint cites internal company documents that allegedly show the platform struggled to review a substantial number of serious user reports and had identified sextortion and child exploitation as significant safety concerns.
Attorneys representing the family contend that the platform prioritized user growth and engagement over child safety, leaving young users vulnerable to grooming and other forms of online exploitation.
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The family of a Missouri teenager is suing Snapchat parent company Snap, claiming the social media platform facilitated her rape as a 12-year-old. https://t.co/xKolK1EuKk pic.twitter.com/zOUD1wcZU2
— CNN (@CNN) June 25, 2026
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