Snapchat Launches New Tool on Drug Dangers Following Fentanyl Deaths in US

Snap is launching an in-app device to coach customers looking for drug-related key phrases on Snapchat in regards to the risks of medication and is engaged on instruments for fogeys to assist hold youngsters protected on the service, the corporate mentioned on Thursday. The announcement comes after a public security alert from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) final week, which warned about a rise in pretend prescription capsules containing fentanyl and methamphetamine usually offered on social media and e-commerce websites.

DEA head Anne Milgrim mentioned in a recent interview with NBC News that social media corporations weren’t doing sufficient to cease the issue.

Social media corporations, together with the world’s largest social community Facebook, are underneath scrutiny from lawmakers over their influence on younger customers’ security and wellbeing.

Snap, which this summer time confronted a protest at its headquarters from dad and mom whose kids had died after taking counterfeit capsules, mentioned it had within the final 12 months grown its group that handles regulation enforcement requests to enhance response instances.

It had additionally labored to enhance its proactive detection capabilities to take away drug sellers from the platform.

“We have heard devastating stories from families impacted by this crisis, including cases where fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills were purchased from drug dealers on Snapchat,” Snap mentioned in a blog post on Thursday. “We will work tirelessly to do better and do more to keep our community safe.”

Snap mentioned it had developed a video commercial marketing campaign and a brand new filter to boost consciousness of the risks of fentanyl and counterfeit capsules.

“Our first priority was to warn the kids that these counterfeit pills have flooded the US market,” mentioned Ed Ternan, whose son died final 12 months from taking a fentanyl-laced capsule purchased from a supplier he discovered on Snapchat, and whose non-profit organisation Song for Charlie is now working with the corporate.

A Snap spokeswoman additionally mentioned it could host a summit this month with regulation enforcement officers to enhance strains of communication.

© Thomson Reuters 2021