Snap is facing a class-action lawsuit in the Netherlands over allegations that Snapchat uses design features that encourage compulsive use, particularly among teenagers and young adults.
Dutch consumer organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SMC) has filed the case with the District Court of Amsterdam. Rather than seeking only financial compensation, the organization wants Snap to change how Snapchat operates, including making features it considers addictive disabled by default.
At the center of the dispute is SnapStreaks, which tracks how many consecutive days two users exchange Snaps. SMC argues that the feature turns everyday communication between friends into an obligation by rewarding continuous participation and making it apparent when a streak ends.
The complaint also targets disappearing content, autoplay, and other elements of Snapchat’s interface that SMC alleges are designed to keep people repeatedly returning to the app.
According to the consumer group, Snapchat has more than six million active users in the Netherlands and is used by over 90% of people between 13 and 24 years old. SMC also claims an average user opens the application about 40 times per day.
The organization argues that younger users are particularly susceptible to engagement-focused design and alleges that Snap deliberately built its service around mechanisms that maximize the amount of attention users give the platform.
SMC is therefore asking the Amsterdam court to require changes to Snapchat’s design. Under its proposed approach, features considered addictive would be switched off initially, and users would have to actively choose to enable them.
The lawsuit also seeks compensation for Snapchat users in the Netherlands. Proposed payments range from €425 to €1,850 per person, with the amount depending on factors including the user’s age and intensity of Snapchat use.
With around six million users potentially represented, the proceedings could have significant financial consequences if the claims ultimately succeed. However, the allegations have not been proven in court, and the case could take years to reach a final decision.
Snap has rejected the broader characterization of its platform as unsafe. Responding to the Dutch action, a company spokesperson said Snap remains committed to making Snapchat a safe, positive and authentic environment.
The dispute in the Netherlands arrives as social media companies face growing legal scrutiny over features intended to increase engagement. Similar allegations concerning addictive platform design and the effects of social media on younger users have resulted in lawsuits against major technology companies across the United States.
The first hearing in the Dutch Snapchat case is expected to take place approximately three months after the filing.