TikTok Hit with Lawsuits from 13 States and DC Over Alleged Harm to Children and Addictive Content

Thirteen states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits against TikTok on Tuesday. The lawsuits accuse the social media giant of harming young people and failing to protect them adequately.

The lawsuits, filed separately in New York, California, Washington, D.C., and other states, expand TikTok’s ongoing legal battle with regulators and call for new financial penalties against the platform.

The states accuse TikTok of using intentionally addictive software designed to keep children watching as long and often as possible and misrepresenting its content moderation effectiveness. Getty Images/iStockphoto

The lawsuits allege that TikTok employs intentionally addictive software designed to keep children engaged on the app for extended periods, thereby exposing them to harmful content.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that TikTok “intentionally targets children” because they cannot set healthy boundaries around their screen time. “TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost corporate profits,” Bonta said.

According to the lawsuits, TikTok seeks to increase the time young users spend on the app to target them with advertisements, which the states argue exacerbates mental health issues in children.

New York Attorney General Letitia James emphasised the detrimental impact, stating, “Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok.”

TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, is battling a US law that could ban the app in the US. REUTERS

In response to the allegations, TikTok recently stated that it strongly disagrees with the claims, insisting that it offers “robust safeguards for teens and parents” and prioritises child safety.

In addition to concerns over content, Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb accused TikTok of operating an unlicensed money transmission business through its live streaming and virtual currency features. Schwalb further criticised the platform, describing it as “dangerous by design” and intended to get young people “addicted to their screens.”

Washington’s lawsuit also included allegations that TikTok facilitates the sexual exploitation of underage users, comparing its live streaming and virtual currency features to a “virtual strip club” without age restrictions.

The states participating in the lawsuit are Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington.

This legal action follows an earlier probe initiated in March 2022, when eight states, including California and Massachusetts, investigated TikTok’s impact on young users. The Justice Department also sued TikTok in August for allegedly failing to protect children’s privacy on the platform.

Several other states, such as Utah and Texas, have previously sued TikTok for failing to safeguard children from harm. Despite these mounting legal pressures, TikTok has denied the accusations in recent court filings. Additionally, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is currently fighting a U.S. law that could lead to a ban on the app in the country.