Families of young people who died after consuming Fake drugs they bought through Snapchat and other social networks have asked these platforms to take action against this scourge.
“I’m here to warn dangers of social networks That’s where drugs and other crimes come in from our kids,” Sam Chapman told AFP. The man was part of a demonstration in Santa Monica outside the headquarters of Snapchat, a popular app for sharing videos and photos among teens.
His 17-year-old son, Sammy, died after poisoning himself in February 2021. fentanyl, a very strong opium and the addictive lurking in the drugs the young man obtained via Snapchat.
“She gasped, fell off her chair and choked in his own vomit“He told me. This is a sad scene that has become so common among teenagers who believe they are using recreational drugs and taking fentanyl unintentionally, Chapman said.
70% of the 107,000 overdose deaths recorded in the United States last year. “fentanyl poisoning”. It is now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, according to the association, which is called the rally.
Chapman said a trader contacted his son on Snapchat and showed him a “menu” of pills of all colors. “Finally I told him he was building houses. (…) like pizza ».
“Snapchat has become the dark web for kids,” he said.
Ask Snapchat and other platforms used by young people to take concrete measures with other victims’ relatives. To contain this trend.
network response
“We are working tirelessly to help combat this crisis in the country by removing illegal drug dealers from our platform,” a Snapchat spokesperson told AFP.
The Californian company also explains that it uses the latest technology. “Proactively identify and veto accounts” of your traders. It also tries to block drug-related search results.
For Chapam, the detection system is not working as drug dealers use emojis and allowed keywords.
Victims Association INVALID It aims for networks to take responsibility for those who come before their users. “If you’re in a supermarket, if you slip and fall, you can go and get them,” the head of VOID said at the protest.
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