US states accuse TikTok of targeting children in disturbing lawsuit

People value human connection more than anything, which is why social media platforms have become so popular since the advent of the internet.

From their user-friendly navigation to their networking benefits, these platforms allow people to stay in touch with loved ones, keep up with the latest news, and even reconnect with old friends.

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TikTok is one of the fastest growing social media platforms and the fifth most used worldwide, with over one billion active users worldwide and 170 million in the US.

Its short-form video format and algorithm allow users to quickly consume large amounts of engaging content they enjoy, making TikTok an incredibly addictive app.

TikTok is facing 14 lawsuits from the US government

Getty/Photography by eLuVe

TikTok has had a troubled history in the US despite its popularity nationwide

Although loved by many, TikTok has had a rough go in the US over the past couple of years.

Due to growing concerns that the app poses a serious threat to national security, the US government has taken numerous actions over the years to completely ban it from the country.

The social media platform was first banned from all US government devices in 2022 by the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, which was passed in December of that year.

In April, US President Joe Biden signed a law that could ban TikTok from legally existing in the US unless ByteDance, its parent company, sells the social media app to a US entity within nine months , but the process remains ongoing.

However, concerns about the platform extend further than the White House.

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Although TikTok has a minimum age requirement of 13 for US account holders and has content restrictions for users under 18, that hasn’t stopped kids from using the app entirely.

According to a 2024 study, 25% of users are between the ages of 10 and 19, and over 47% are under 30.

These figures have caused immense concern among parents and government officials, prompting them to create laws to protect minors from the app.

In June, New York Governor Kathy Hochull signed two bills, which were introduced last October, that regulate social media algorithms.

The SAFE For Kids Act requires social media platforms to display content in chronological order to stop the exploitation of addictive feed, and New York’s Children’s Data Protection Act restricts the collection and sharing of personal data of minor users without consent.

TikTok is being criticized with lawsuits from 14 attorneys general

On Tuesday, a coalition of 14 attorneys general from several states, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, filed separate lawsuits in Santa Clara County Superior Court against TikTok, alleging that the social media platform social media is exploiting young users and deceiving the public.

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In the lawsuits, the plaintiffs allege that the app contains harmful features, including 24/7 push notifications, filters, autoplay of videos, and likes and comments that make users addicted to the content, subsequently causing major damage to the mental health of young audiences.

“Our investigation revealed that TikTok is cultivating social media addiction to increase corporate profits. “TikTok intentionally targets children because they know that children do not yet have the defenses or ability to create healthy boundaries around addictive content,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in the filing.

However, TikTok denies the claims made in the attorneys general’s filings.

“We strongly disagree with these claims, many of which we believe to be inaccurate and misleading. We are proud of and remain deeply committed to the work we have done to protect teens and will continue to update and improve our product,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement to CBS.

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