Families Protest Snapchat Outside Offices Over Fentanyl Deaths

More than 40 families spell out names of children they say died from social media-facilitated drug sales

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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More than 40 grieving families gathered on a Santa Monica sidewalk, buckets of white paint in hand, to spell out the names of children they say died after fentanyl was sold through Snapchat. The temporary memorial was strategically placed outside of Snapchat's offices near the Santa Monica Airport, a stark reminder that the platform's disappearing messages are now part of a national conversation about drug safety and online responsibility.

Why it matters

Federal investigators have opened a probe into fatal fentanyl poisonings where the drug was allegedly purchased via Snapchat. Families have filed over 60 lawsuits against Snap Inc., accusing the company of negligence and wrongful death, though some claims have been dismissed under Section 230 protections. The protest highlights growing pressure on social media platforms to address how their design choices may enable illegal drug sales.

The details

In October 2022, relatives of more than 60 young people filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging that Snapchat's 'disappearing messages' enable drug dealers to hide illegal activity. The complaint accuses Snap of negligence, a defective product, misrepresentation, and wrongful death. Judge Lawrence P. Riff allowed 12 of those claims to move forward while dismissing others—including the count that Snap 'aided and abetted drug dealers'—under the Communications Decency Act's Section 230 shield.

  • The temporary memorial was placed outside Snapchat's offices on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • In October 2022, over 60 families filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc. in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The players

Snap Inc.

The parent company of the social media platform Snapchat.

Lawrence P. Riff

The judge who allowed 12 claims against Snap Inc. to move forward while dismissing others under Section 230 protections.

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What’s next

Federal investigators are continuing their probe into fatal fentanyl poisonings linked to Snapchat, and the lawsuits against Snap Inc. are ongoing.

The takeaway

This protest and the ongoing legal battles highlight the growing pressure on social media platforms to address how their design choices and content moderation policies may be enabling the deadly spread of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. The outcome of these cases could set new standards for platform accountability and digital safety.