TikTok hit by over a dozen state lawsuits for allegedly harming teens
Attorneys general from 14 states have sued TikTok, alleging it harms children's mental health, promotes addiction, violates COPPA, and misleads users about safety features, while TikTok disputes these claims.
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Attorneys general from 14 states have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that the platform harms children's mental health and misleads the public regarding its safety. The lawsuits, led by New York's Letitia James and California's Rob Bonta, claim that TikTok's design promotes social media addiction, particularly targeting children who lack the ability to manage addictive content. The AGs argue that TikTok's features, such as autoplay videos and temporary content, contribute to prolonged usage and exposure to dangerous challenges, some of which have been linked to teen fatalities. The lawsuits assert that TikTok has violated various laws, including the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), by allowing minors under 13 to access the platform and profiting from their data. They also accuse TikTok of misleading marketing practices, such as misrepresenting its screen time limit feature. TikTok has responded by disputing the claims and expressing disappointment over the lawsuits, stating that it has been working with the AGs to address concerns. The lawsuits seek to halt TikTok's allegedly harmful practices and impose financial penalties. This legal action is part of a broader trend where state AGs are increasingly targeting tech companies for issues related to child safety.
- 14 states have filed lawsuits against TikTok for allegedly harming children's mental health.
- The lawsuits claim TikTok promotes addiction and targets children with harmful content.
- TikTok is accused of violating COPPA by allowing minors under 13 to use the platform.
- The platform's marketing practices are also under scrutiny for misleading claims about safety features.
- TikTok disputes the allegations and expresses disappointment over the lawsuits.
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