Jennifer Mitchell, whose 16-year-old son Ian Ezquerra died in 2019 while filming himself playing Russian roulette on Snapchat, has voiced criticism of Meta's $18 billion multi-state settlement addressing child harm claims, deeming the payout inadequate.
Ezquerra died by suicide while participating in the dangerous online activity. Three years after her son's death, Mitchell filed a lawsuit against Meta and Snap, alleging that the social media platforms' algorithms contributed to her son's depression and led him down a harmful online path. Her lawsuit remains active, and she believes police at the time did not sufficiently investigate the social media aspect of her son's death.
Mitchell revealed that her son first mentioned thoughts of self-harm during a European cruise trip with her just weeks before his death. She stated that this was the first time she had heard such words from him. Following their return, discussions with Ezquerra's father indicated the son claimed he didn't remember expressing those thoughts, yet he died by suicide a month later.
According to Mitchell, her son was experiencing emotional distress and depression that she was unaware of until his friends informed her. She noted that because her son lived between two households, it was possible for things to go unnoticed, and he may have presented a facade to both parents.
Mitchell asserts that her son's death was influenced by the social platform's algorithms, which she believes encouraged him to participate in the online challenge. She recounted a statement from a police officer who allegedly asked her, "Don't you see that your son wanted to die?" The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on this matter. Evidence found, including other videos her son had seen, contributed to him falling into a "rabbit hole," Mitchell said.
She further described the social media environment in 2019 as "very uncontrolled," where children could easily create accounts by self-certifying their age. "It was a very uncontrolled environment. Kids who really wanted to have accounts could just click a button saying: 'Yes, I am this age' and that's it," Mitchell stated.
Florida's Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has rejected the settlement, calling the $18 billion payout "peanuts" and a "slap on the wrist." Florida intends to pursue a jury trial for financial damages, with New Mexico being the only other state not to join the settlement. Mitchell views Meta's willingness to settle as an implicit acknowledgment of their role in the deaths of young users.
As part of the settlement, Meta has agreed to implement new safety features, including daily two-hour time limits for users and disabling push notifications during school hours. However, Matthew Bergman, founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center and Mitchell's attorney, argues that these measures will not adequately address the core problems of social media platforms. He stated that the algorithms remain addictive, continue to show users content they cannot look away from, and that protections for young people against online predators are insufficient. It remains unclear when an independent auditor will begin monitoring Meta or when Mitchell's individual lawsuit will proceed to trial.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. by calling or texting 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for online chat support.