WATCH THE VIDEO HERE TikTok is facing a fresh wave of legal challenges in the U.S. after 13 states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits accusing the social media giant of failing to protect young users from harm. The lawsuits, filed separately in New York, California, Washington D.C., and 11 other states, allege that TikTok’s platform is designed to be addictive, exploiting children’s vulnerability to boost profits. The lawsuits intensify TikTok’s ongoing legal battle with U.S. regulators, with the plaintiffs seeking financial penalties and increased accountability for the Chinese-owned company. According to the states, TikTok’s software is intentionally designed to keep users, particularly children, engaged for extended periods, raising concerns about mental health and the efficacy of its content moderation efforts. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that TikTok “intentionally targets children” because they lack the capacity to create healthy boundaries around addictive content. He added that the platform’s algorithm encourages prolonged use to increase ad revenues. New York Attorney General Letitia James echoed similar concerns, emphasizing the platform’s negative impact on young users’ mental health. “Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok,” James said. In response to the lawsuits, TikTok strongly denied the allegations, calling many of the claims “inaccurate and misleading.” Beyond the accusations of addiction, Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb alleged that TikTok operates an unlicensed money transmission business through its live streaming and virtual currency features. He described TikTok as a platform “dangerous by design,” aimed at getting young users addicted to their screens.
TikTok faces multiple lawsuits in the U.S. over alleged harm to young users
