More than a dozen states in the United States have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that the social media platform contributes to a mental health crisis among teenagers.
A bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general from various states claims that TikTok employs addictive features to ensnare young users and has deliberately misrepresented the safety of extended usage. In response, TikTok described the lawsuit as “disappointing” and asserted that many of the allegations are “inaccurate and misleading.”
The platform is already contesting a law passed by Congress in April that would prohibit its operation in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, Bytedance, agrees to divest.
The lawsuit, submitted in New York on Tuesday, asserts, “TikTok is aware that the compulsive use and harmful effects of its platform are devastating the mental health of millions of American children and teenagers.” It further claims that despite this knowledge, TikTok continues to misrepresent its platform as “safe” and “appropriate for children and teenagers.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James stated that numerous young individuals across the country have died or been harmed while participating in TikTok “challenges,” with many others experiencing increased feelings of sadness, anxiety, and depression due to the app’s addictive features.
James highlighted the case of a 15-year-old boy who died in Manhattan while “subway surfing”—riding on top of a moving subway car. His mother later discovered TikTok videos of similar activities on his phone. “TikTok claims that their platform is safe for young people, but that is far from true,” Ms. James declared in a statement announcing the lawsuit.
The complaint identifies several specific features as problematic: notifications that disrupt sleep, disappearing videos that encourage frequent checking, and beauty filters that alter users’ appearances.
Although TikTok has introduced tools intended to help users manage their screen time and adjust content recommendations, the lawsuit contends that the company has misrepresented their effectiveness. The legal actions were filed separately by 13 states and the District of Columbia, where the attorney general accused TikTok of operating an unlicensed money transmission business through its “virtual currency” offerings.
In a statement on Tuesday, TikTok responded, “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 our efforts to protect teens, and we will continue to update and improve our product.” The lawsuit seeks to prevent TikTok from continuing these practices and requests financial penalties.
Regulators have pursued similar actions against Facebook and Instagram regarding their effects on young people's mental health.
These lawsuits compound the legal challenges facing TikTok, which is estimated to be used multiple times a day by over half of U.S. teenagers. States like Texas and Utah have previously filed comparable lawsuits focused on child safety, while the Federal Trade Commission accused TikTok in August of violating child privacy laws.
Imran Ahmed, CEO of the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate, expressed hope that these legal actions would raise awareness among parents regarding the risks associated with these platforms and exert pressure on companies to change their practices. However, he noted that Washington would need to strengthen regulations for significant change to occur.
“It signals a growing frustration that no other mechanisms exist to hold these platforms accountable,” he said regarding the lawsuits. “Attorneys general are doing what they can with the limited tools available, but the judicial system’s ability to hold these companies accountable is constrained.”
Credit:3News.
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