A coalition of 12 attorneys general, including North Carolina’s Attorney General Josh Stein, has filed lawsuits against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd., alleging that the popular video-sharing platform is adversely impacting the mental health of young users by intentionally designing the app to be addictive to children. These legal actions are the result of a national investigation launched in March 2022 by a bipartisan group of attorneys general from various states, such as New York, California, Kentucky, and New Jersey, with complaints being lodged in state courts.
Central to each lawsuit is the TikTok algorithm, which customizes users’ content feeds based on their interests. The legal challenges highlight specific design elements that purportedly contribute to children becoming addicted to the platform, including endless scrolling features, stimulating push notifications, and face filters that promote unrealistic beauty standards. The lawsuits assert that TikTok’s algorithm is engineered to trigger dopamine release and foster addictive behavior to keep young users engrossed on the app for extended periods, despite the acknowledged risks of psychological and physiological harm such as anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia.
Responding to the lawsuits, TikTok spokesman Alex Haurek refuted the allegations, asserting that the company has made efforts to safeguard teenagers and improve its product continually. Despite TikTok’s restrictions on users under 13 and content limitations for individuals under 18, some states argue that children can bypass these safeguards easily, exposing them to adult-oriented content and potential harm.
In addition to addictive features, the lawsuits also address TikTok’s virtual economy, accusing the company of operating an unlicensed financial system by allowing users to purchase virtual currency (TikTok Coins) and gifts for streamers on TikTok Live, profiting from financial transactions without appropriate regulatory oversight. Authorities further allege that TikTok’s live streaming feature has facilitated the dissemination of sexually explicit content, effectively transforming the platform into a “virtual strip club” without adequate age restrictions, thereby enabling exploitation of young users.
The attorneys general aim to halt TikTok’s alleged harmful practices, impose penalties for illegal conduct, and seek damages for affected users. These legal actions reflect a broader trend of increasing scrutiny on social media platforms and their impact on youth well-being, with several states pursuing legal action against tech companies, including TikTok, for various violations. Amidst the legal battles, TikTok faces possible national-level challenges, including the risk of being banned from the U.S. if its parent company, ByteDance, fails to comply with federal regulations. The unfolding legal landscape hints at impending judicial decisions that could shape the future of TikTok’s operations in the United States.
