US States Sue TikTok over Alleged Harm to Minors

Thirteen US states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits on Tuesday against TikTok, accusing the popular social media platform of harming young users and failing to protect them.

The lawsuits, launched separately in New York, California, and 11 other states, aim to impose new financial penalties on the Chinese-owned app and expand the ongoing legal battle between TikTok and US regulators.

The states allege that TikTok intentionally designs its platform to encourage addiction, keeping minors engaged for long periods without sufficient content oversight.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that TikTok "deliberately fosters social media addiction to boost corporate profits," targeting children who may not have the ability to set healthy limits.

The lawsuits argue that TikTok seeks to maximize user time on the app in order to increase ad revenue.

New York Attorney General Letitia James added that social media platforms like TikTok are contributing to youth mental health crises by creating addictive environments.

In response, TikTok rejected the allegations, calling them "inaccurate and misleading." The company expressed disappointment that the states opted for litigation instead of collaborating on industry-wide solutions.

TikTok highlighted its existing safety features, such as default screen time limits and privacy settings for users under 16.

The District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb also accused TikTok of operating unauthorized money transfers through its live-streaming and virtual currency features.

He described the platform as a "dangerous, addictive product" designed to captivate young users.

The Washington lawsuit additionally accused TikTok of facilitating the sexual exploitation of minors, claiming its live-streaming and virtual currency systems function like an unregulated, online strip club.

In March 2022, eight states announced a nationwide investigation into TikTok’s effects on young users. The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in August 2023, accusing TikTok of failing to protect children’s privacy.