Despite claiming to block drug-related content, Snapchat's AI chatbot freely answered questions about Delta-8 THC, portraying it favorably with purported benefits and low risks, without citing any scientific evidence.
Parents, educators, and policymakers concerned about youth substance use and AI-generated health misinformation.
Snapchat AI provided Delta-8 information with zero scientific citations while blocking "weed" and "THC"
What the researchers found
Snapchat AI provided information about Delta-8 THC across five themes: general information (comparing it to Delta-9 but with lower potency), use motives (pain relief, anti-nausea, appetite, anxiety), potential consequences (mild side effects), retail availability, and product recommendations. No citations were provided. While "weed" and "THC" were blocked as search terms, "Delta-8" was not.
Why it matters
Snapchat is one of the most popular platforms among teens and young adults. Its AI chatbot is automatically available on all accounts and functions as an easily accessible information source that may shape cannabis perceptions without scientific backing.
The numbers in context
Five thematic categories identified. Zero citations provided by the AI. "Delta-8" was not blocked while "weed" and "THC" were. The AI actively prompted follow-up questions, driving deeper engagement with the topic.
How the study worked
Qualitative analysis of Snapchat AI chatbot responses to Delta-8 THC questions (August 2024-January 2025). Researchers asked questions as users would, and AI responses were independently coded into thematic categories.
What this study cannot tell us
Qualitative design without quantitative measures of impact on users. Responses may vary based on prompting style. Snapchat AI may update its responses over time. Does not measure how many youth actually ask about Delta-8.
How to read the evidence
Preliminary: qualitative analysis of AI chatbot responses at a single time point without measuring actual impact on user behavior.
When this study was published
2025 study (data collected August 2024-January 2025).
The bigger picture
As AI chatbots become embedded in social media, they represent a new and largely unregulated channel for health misinformation. Youth may trust AI-generated responses about substances without recognizing the lack of scientific evidence behind claims.
Questions still open
- Should social media platforms be required to block AI responses about unregulated substances? Do youth distinguish between AI-generated and evidence-based health information? How quickly can platform policies adapt to emerging substance trends?
Common questions
Does Snapchat block drug information?
Is the information Snapchat AI provides accurate?
Read the original research
Snapchat Artificial Intelligence as an Information Source on Delta-8 THC.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 77(5), 931-937
Citation
LoParco, Cassidy R; Tillett, Kayla K; Bektaş, Ayyüce Begüm; Rossheim, Matthew E; Berg, Carla J. (2025). Snapchat Artificial Intelligence as an Information Source on Delta-8 THC.. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 77(5), 931-937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.06.036
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