Over a dozen states in the United States have filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the social media platform of contributing to a mental health crisis among teenagers.
A bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general claims that TikTok employs addictive features designed to engage young users while misleading the public about the safety of prolonged use.
The platform has characterized the lawsuits as “disappointing,” asserting that many of the allegations are “inaccurate and misleading.”
The legal action comes as TikTok is already grappling with a law passed by Congress in April that could result in a ban unless its Chinese parent company, Bytedance, agrees to divest.
The lawsuit, filed in New York on Tuesday, contends that “TikTok knows that compulsive use of its platform and its other harmful effects are wreaking havoc on the mental health of millions of American children and teenagers.”
Attorney General Letitia James noted that numerous young people have suffered injuries or fatalities while participating in TikTok challenges, and many others report feeling increasingly sad, anxious, and depressed due to the app’s addictive features.
She cited the case of a 15-year-old boy who died while “subway surfing” in Manhattan, with TikTok videos of similar activities found on his phone.
“TikTok claims that their platform is safe for young people, but that is far from true,” said Ms. James in her announcement regarding the lawsuit.
The lawsuit points to several specific features as particularly harmful, including alerts that disrupt sleep, disappearing videos that prompt frequent checking of the app, and beauty filters that encourage users to alter their appearance.
While TikTok has introduced tools aimed at helping users limit screen time and customize their content, the lawsuit argues that the effectiveness of these measures has been misrepresented.
The lawsuits were filed by 13 states and the District of Columbia, where the attorney general also accused TikTok of operating an unlicensed money transmission business through its virtual currency offerings.
In response, TikTok stated: “We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we believe to be inaccurate and misleading. We’re proud of and remain deeply committed to the work we’ve done to protect teens and will continue to update and improve our product.”
The lawsuit seeks to prohibit TikTok from these practices and calls for financial penalties.
Regulators have initiated similar lawsuits against Facebook and Instagram regarding their impact on young people’s mental health.
These legal actions add to the mounting challenges faced by the widely popular app, which is estimated to be used multiple times a day by over half of U.S. teenagers.
Earlier lawsuits by states such as Texas and Utah have also focused on child safety issues related to TikTok. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission accused TikTok in August of violating child privacy laws.
Imran Ahmed, CEO of the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate, expressed hope that the lawsuits would raise awareness among parents about the risks associated with such platforms and pressure companies to alter their practices. He emphasized that more stringent regulations from Washington are needed for significant change.
“It sends a signal that there is growing frustration due to the lack of mechanisms available to hold these platforms accountable,” he stated.
Attorneys general are utilizing the limited tools at their disposal, but the capacity of the judicial system to hold these companies accountable remains constrained, he added.
