Snapchat suspended two third-party apps that allow users to send anonymous messages on the platform. The move follows a lawsuit filed this week by the mother of an Oregon teenager who committed suicide last year, after receiving months of bullying messages via Yolo and LMK. Q&A apps use Snap Kit, a suite of tools that helps developers log in to snapchat.
“In light of the serious allegations raised by the lawsuit, and out of caution for the safety of the Snapchat community, we are suspending the Snap Kit integrations of Yolo and LMK while we investigate these allegations,” a spokesperson for Snap. Los Angeles Times. Engadget has contacted Yolo and LMK for comment.
The lawsuit called for an immediate ban of Yolo and LMK from the platform as well as other apps that lack adequate protection against cyberbullying. He alleges that both apps violated consumer protection law for not adhering to their own policies and terms of service. According to the lawsuit, Yolo promised a zero-tolerance approach to abusive behavior and bullying, but allowed the abuse of the teenager to persist for months. LMK has made similar promises regarding handling abuse.
The complainants say that by not removing the apps from its platform, Snap also failed to comply with its policies. They called for anonymous messaging apps to be considered dangerous goods because of the way they facilitate bullying. The plaintiffs aim to represent all users of Snapchat, Yolo and LMK in a class action lawsuit and they seek damages.
In the United States, the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. The crisis text line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741 (US), 686868 (Canada) or 85258 (UK).
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