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OLYMPIA, Wash., Dec. 19, 2024 – A 16-year-old in Thurston County died from a drug overdose on this date, an event that continues to haunt his family.Avery Ping, believed to have taken MDMA, instead had a lethal dose of fentanyl, according to medical staff.
A tragic overdose death in Thurston County highlights concerns about social media’s role in facilitating drug sales and impacting youth mental health.
- Avery Ping, 16, died Dec. 19, 2024, from a suspected fentanyl overdose after a possible drug transaction facilitated via Snapchat.
- The Social Media Victims law Center (SMVLC) is suing tech companies, alleging their addictive algorithms contribute to youth mental health crises, including deadly overdoses.
- SMVLC claims finding in a lawsuit against Snapchat revealed evidence of psychologists and neurologists being used to design addictive platforms.
- Data shows high social media use among teens,correlated with increased rates of anxiety,depression,and sadness.
- Tech companies like meta, tiktok, and Snapchat state they have implemented safeguards for teen users.
surveillance video from the Ping family home appeared to capture a drug transaction. Avery was seen interacting with someone in a Toyota Prius at the end of his driveway. Later that evening, he was seen outside the home with two other men, appearing visibly impaired. Emergency crews responded, and Avery was transported to the hospital.
The Ping family informed investigators that the suspected dealer used snapchat to connect with their son and other Olympia High School students. This case is not an isolated incident, according to the Seattle-based Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC).
SMVLC has filed over 1,500 lawsuits against tech giants like Snapchat, Meta, and TikTok. The organization alleges that addictive algorithms and platform negligenc
Olympia Police arrested a 33-year-old man for controlled substance homicide in connection with the Ping case. Court documents indicated the suspect’s Snapchat account was used for drug sales.
Olympia Police issued a warning in March for families to be aware of online drug dealers targeting children. Detective Patrick Hutnik explained that dealers use emojis or search terms like “drug dealer” in app titles to connect with users via location services, accepting payment through apps like Cash App for home delivery.
The ping family is set to participate in a panel discussion following a free screening of the documentary “Can’t Look Away: The Case against Social Media” at West Seattle’s admiral Theater on Aug.28 at 6 p.m.They will be joined by SMVLC attorneys, policy experts, and a former Meta executive.
Statements from tech Companies
Meta Statement
“We know parents are worried about their teens having unsafe or inappropriate experiences online, and that’s why we’ve significantly changed the Instagram experience for tens of millions of teens with new Teen Accounts,” a meta spokesperson stated. These accounts include protections that limit contact and content visibility, requiring parental permission for setting changes for users under 16.Parents can monitor interactions and set time limits.
TikTok Statement
TikTok stated that while the average U.S. user is over 30, the platform offers more restrictive settings for teens. Users under 16 have private accounts by default and no direct messaging, while all teens under 18 have a 60-minute daily screen time limit. Family Pairing tools allow parents to customize settings, including screen time limits, content filtering, and blocking access during specific times.
