What Teens Need to Know: Social Media Isn’t Just for Fun Anymore

brandon9930
3 days ago
3 min read

By: Social Media Victims Law Center 1. Social media can be deadly

Apps like Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok aren’t just places to chat—they’ve become channels for drug dealers to reach teens with counterfeit pills.
These fake pills often resemble real ones (Percocet, Xanax, Adderall) but are laced with fentanyl, an opioid 50 times stronger than heroin. Just one pill can kill.
In one tragic case, the teenage son of a bereaved mother died from a counterfeit pill purchased through Snapchat—a story that’s now part of a documentary about children harmed on social media.

2. Why Snapchat is under fire

Lawyers from the Social Media Victims Law Center are suing Snap, Inc., claiming that Snapchat’s disappearing messages and design features make it easy for teens to connect with drug dealers—and leave no evidence.
More than 60 families, with victims aged 14‑22, have filed lawsuits claiming their teens died after buying fentanyl-laced pills via Snapchat. Only two survived.(Social Media Victims Law Center)
Bellwether trials, which are the first test cases chosen from a large group of similar lawsuits to help show how future cases might turn out, are scheduled for late August 2025, as part of broader legal action on Snapchat-related fentanyl overdoses.(Social Media Victims Law Center)

Why Teens Are Particularly at Risk:

Brains aren't fully developed until mid‑20s. Teens tend to take risks and may downplay warning signs or assume they’re invincible.
Even though overall drug use among teens has fallen, fentanyl exposure has skyrocketed, causing adolescent overdose deaths to double — by 2022, about 22 teens died each week in the U.S. from overdose, driven by fentanyl in counterfeit pills.
In 2023, roughly 7 in 10 teen overdose deaths involved fentanyl, and many teens encountered these drugs through social media contacts.

Stay Safe — What You Should Know (and Share)

What to Know	Why It Matters
Fake pills are everywhere. Even one fentanyl-laced pill can be fatal.	Teens sometimes buy prescription pills online believing they’re legit—often they’re not.
Social media dealers use emojis and disappearing messages to stay hidden.	Dealers advertise with codes, then disappear messages before warnings or evidence can be captured.
Algorithms amplify risky content.	Platforms can push what keeps you scrolling, even dangerous drug content.

How can Teens spot risks?

Unexpected requests via Snapchat/Instagram DM? Be cautious.
Seeing pill emojis ? Don’t assume it’s just joking.
Someone promising pills delivered to your house? Walk away.
Friends reacting differently after getting pills? It might mean something bad happened.

What Teens can do:

Don’t buy pills online, even if they look real.
Talk with someone you trust if you ever feel pressured to try something—you’re not alone.
Learn the emoji codes: The DEA’s “Emoji Drug Code” helps identify suspicious patterns.
Watch out for mental health challenges — stress, anxiety, ongoing trauma, depression can make risky behavior seem like a quick fix. Talk to a professional.
Know the signs of overdose, and consider carrying naloxone (Narcan) if you’re in a risk area.
Benzodiazepines (often referred to as ‘benzos’) are a class of medications that are also commonly abused (Xanax, Librium, Valium among others) and taken with opioids. If opioids and benzos are taken together and result in overdose, naloxone is ineffective in reversing the overdose.

The Key Takeaways

Teens are being targeted on social media with counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.
Snapchat’s disappearing message features may unintentionally help dealers operate.
Fentanyl is extremely dangerous—even small amounts can be lethal.
SMVLC’s guide provides important legal context, support for impacted families, and tips for prevention.
Honest conversations, awareness of codes and emojis, avoiding risky exchanges, and mental health support can save lives.

It can feel like everyone’s doing risky things online—but your life, safety, and mental health are worth protecting. Don't be afraid to ask questions, get help, and stay informed. Your choices now matter more than ever.