Dozens Of States Sue TikTok, Alleging Addictive Features For Youth

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that 14 attorneys general are filing suits against TikTok, accusing the social media platform of exploiting and harming young users while deceiving the public about its dangers. The lawsuits, filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court and other jurisdictions, allege that TikTok's business model focuses on maximizing young users' time on the platform to increase revenue from targeted advertising. The attorneys general accused the company of employing manipulative features designed to keep minors engaged compulsively, despite the dangers of excessive use. These features include beauty filters, autoplay and infinite scroll, time-sensitive content, push notifications, and social validation through likes and comments. The coalition said that TikTok violates state consumer protection laws, including California's Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law. They seek significant penalties, as well as injunctive and monetary relief, to address the alleged misconduct. A TikTok spokesperson disagreed with the claims, stating that they "strongly disagree" with the allegations and have tried to work with the attorneys general for over two years. The use of TikTok is widespread among young people in the United States, with 63 percent of Americans aged 13 to 17 reporting using the platform. This is not the first legal action against TikTok, as 23 attorneys general have now filed actions against the company regarding its conduct toward youth. The attorneys general are seeking to protect young people from the alleged harm caused by TikTok's business practices.