Snapchat allows drug dealers to operate openly on platform, finds Danish study

Social media platform accused of failing to filter out obvious usernames such as coke', weed' and molly'

Snapchat has been accused by a Danish research organisation of leaving an overwhelming number" of drug dealers to openly operate on Snapchat, making it easy for children to buy substances including cocaine, opioids and MDMA.

The social media platform has said it proactively uses technology to filter out profiles selling drugs. However, research by Digitalt Ansvar (Digital Accountability), a Danish research organisation that promotes responsible digital development, has found evidence of a failure to moderate drug-related language in usernames. It also accused Snapchat of failing to respond adequately to reports of profiles openly selling drugs.