A major investigation has uncovered that Snapchat has become a thriving marketplace for illicit drug sales, with dealers operating openly on the platform. The findings, from the Danish Centre for Prevention of Substance Abuse (CPSA), present a stark challenge to the social media giant's safety claims.
Researchers identified a surge in drug-related activity on Snapchat, particularly following crackdowns on other platforms. Dealers are brazenly using the app's core features—ephemeral messages and location sharing—to advertise, negotiate, and distribute narcotics with a perceived sense of anonymity.
How Dealers Exploit the Platform
The CPSA's methodology involved monitoring public Snapchat stories in specific Danish locations. They found a highly organised system:
- Public Stories as Shop Fronts: Dealers use geo-tagged public stories to advertise their products and availability, often using emoji code.
- The "Snap Map" for Delivery: The location-sharing feature is used to coordinate meet-ups and doorstep deliveries, making transactions swift and discreet.
- Disappearing Messages: The transient nature of chats provides a false sense of security, with evidence vanishing after being viewed.
A Youthful User Base at Risk
Most alarmingly, the research highlights that the primary user base—teenagers and young adults—is being directly targeted. This ease of access normalises drug use and poses a significant threat to child safety and public health.
"We are seeing a shift where young people don't need to seek out a dealer in a dark alley; the dealer is now just a click away in their pocket," a CPSA representative stated.
Snapchat's Response and Mounting Pressure
In response to the findings, a Snapchat spokesperson reiterated the company's zero-tolerance policy towards illegal activity. They pointed to their automated detection systems and in-app reporting tools, claiming they proactively work with law enforcement.
However, critics argue that the platform's design inherently facilitates this crime. The report intensifies pressure on Snapchat and other tech firms to strengthen their moderation efforts and redesign features that are easily co-opted for harm.
This Danish report adds to a growing body of evidence from the UK and US, suggesting a global pattern and raising urgent questions about social media regulation and corporate responsibility.
