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| Snapchat takes action to combat drug smuggling |
Snapchat has announced a series of steps to counter drug trafficking on its platform and educate users about the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs.
The platform directs users searching for drug-related keywords like fentanyl to a new educational portal called Heads Up.
It has also strengthened its actions against drug smugglers on its platform, notably through improved in-app reporting tools and proactive investigations.
The announcements came after NBC News recently investigated a series of deaths of teens and young adults suspected of purchasing fentanyl-containing drugs through social media.
The report says drug dealers can use the platform to find buyers, but the platform hasn't done enough to delete their accounts and prevent them from being shut down. The social network is also accused of providing information to law enforcement agencies for a very long time.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has been linked to an alarming increase in the number of deaths in the United States in recent years. In 2019, nearly 50,000 people in the United States died from an opioid overdose.
The pharmacist puts fentanyl into prescription Vicodin or Xanax tablets, and then the customer inadvertently buys these tablets.
Snapchat wants to fix the fentanyl problem
Snapchat has confirmed that it is taking further action with merchants on its platform. The company said that the demand rate doubled in the first half of 2021. Its system is actively discovering 260% more materials than before.
He stated that the AI system will actively detect nearly two-thirds of drug-related content. He added that his response time to law enforcement inquiries increased by 85% each year. However, she admitted that she still had more to do.
In addition to actively removing drug smugglers from its platform. Research cited by Snapchat shows that some users are unaware of the dangers of fentanyl. This is the problem that Heads-Up Portal aims to address.
The platform stated that it will promote the gateway and general risks of fentanyl through new filters. She also spoke about the crisis on the upcoming original Good Luck America.