More than a dozen U.S. states have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that the social media platform is exacerbating a mental health crisis among teenagers. A bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general contends that TikTok employs addictive features designed to engage young users while misleading the public regarding the dangers of prolonged app usage.
In response, TikTok labeled the lawsuits as “disappointing,” asserting that many claims are “inaccurate and misleading.” The company is already embroiled in a legal battle following a congressional law passed in April that could ban TikTok in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, agrees to a sale.
The lawsuits, initiated in New York on Tuesday, state that “TikTok knows that compulsive use and other harmful effects of its platform are wreaking havoc on the mental health of millions of American children and teenagers.” The documents further assert that TikTok continues to misrepresent its platform as “safe” and “appropriate for children and teenagers.
New York Attorney General Letitia James highlighted tragic incidents where young individuals have been harmed or killed while participating in TikTok “challenges.” She referenced the case of a 15-year-old boy who died in Manhattan while “subway surfing”—riding on top of a moving subway car—after his mother discovered videos of similar activities on his phone.
“TikTok claims that their platform is safe for young people, but that is far from true,” James stated during the announcement of the lawsuits.
Specific features highlighted as problematic include notifications that disrupt sleep, disappearing videos that prompt users to check the app frequently, and beauty filters that alter users’ appearances. Despite TikTok’s promotion of tools intended to help users manage their screen time and content preferences, the lawsuit alleges that these features are misrepresented in their effectiveness.
The lawsuits were filed individually by 13 states along with the District of Columbia, where the attorney general accused TikTok of operating an unlicensed money transmission business through its “virtual currency” offerings.
In a statement, TikTok expressed its strong disagreement with the claims, asserting, “We believe many of these allegations are inaccurate and misleading. We’re proud of the work we’ve done to protect teens and will continue to enhance our platform.”
The legal action seeks to prohibit TikTok from continuing such practices and requests financial penalties. TikTok joins other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which have faced similar scrutiny regarding their effects on young people’s mental health.
With over half of U.S. teenagers reportedly using TikTok multiple times a day, the lawsuits amplify the existing challenges for the immensely popular app. Earlier, states such as Texas and Utah had already initiated similar lawsuits targeting child safety on the platform. In August, the Federal Trade Commission also accused TikTok of breaching child privacy laws.
Imran Ahmed, CEO of the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate, expressed hope that the lawsuits would increase parental awareness of the risks associated with these platforms and motivate companies to revise their practices. However, he noted that significant change would require stricter legislation from Washington.
“This sends a signal that there is growing frustration over the lack of mechanisms to hold these platforms accountable,” Ahmed remarked. He emphasized that while attorneys general are utilizing the limited tools at their disposal, the judicial system’s capacity to enforce accountability on these companies remains constrained.
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