TikTok is facing renewed legal challenges as 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits on Tuesday, accusing the popular social media platform of failing to protect young users and causing harm through its design.
The lawsuits, filed separately in New York, California, and 11 other states, expand the legal scrutiny surrounding the Chinese-owned app. The states are seeking financial penalties and allege that TikTok employs intentionally addictive features aimed at keeping children engaged for extended periods, while also misrepresenting its effectiveness in moderating content.
“TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost corporate profits,” stated California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The platform specifically targets children, who often lack the ability to establish healthy boundaries around such addictive content.”
According to the states, TikTok’s business model focuses on maximizing user engagement to enhance advertising revenue. “Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok,” remarked New York Attorney General Letitia James.
In response, TikTok expressed strong disagreement with the lawsuits, describing many claims as “inaccurate and misleading.” The company emphasized its commitment to collaboration over litigation, citing safety features like default screen time limits and privacy settings for users under 16.
Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb accused TikTok of operating an unlicensed money transmission business via its live streaming and virtual currency features, labeling the platform “dangerous by design” for its potential to foster screen addiction among youth.
One lawsuit from Washington alleged that TikTok enables the sexual exploitation of minors, claiming its live streaming and virtual currency features function like a “virtual strip club with no age restrictions.”
The states involved include Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington.
This legal action follows a broader investigation initiated in March 2022 by eight states, including California and Massachusetts, into TikTok’s impact on young people. Additionally, the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in August against TikTok for allegedly failing to safeguard children’s privacy. Previous lawsuits from states like Utah and Texas have also raised concerns about the platform’s protections for minors.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is currently battling a U.S. law that could lead to a ban of the app in the country.
